“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
These lines inspired us to start our travel operations back in 1980, first with domestic travel programme. In the beginning of the 21st century, there was much hype about the phenomenal growth of India’s economic and scientific prowess; thanks to the vision of former President of India and one of the country’s brightest scientific minds, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The promising hopes of the year 2020 reverberated with the youth of India due to Dr.Kalam tagging it, talking and writing endlessly about it and even publishing a book for the inspired youth. He even envisaged the role of travel and tourism in bringing the world together.
Come 2020, the world is witnessing a world without travel. The international borders have been insulated, people isolated and quarantined, hopes shattered, dreams broken and lives consumed. As the world is gearing itself to adjust to the ‘new’ normal at least for the next six months, it will undergo waves of transformation hitherto never seen.
Travel and tourism is the most affected sector by a long way. Not to mention the education, business and medical sectors which depend on travel for operation and efficiency. For most of us fear will be the single most demotivating factor that can thwart the prospect of travelling as COVID-19 will continue to haunt air travellers especially for a good couple of years from now. How we, as travellers, cope with our unremitting fears and reservations is a challenge within.
With mental health levels of people going from bad to worse during the lock down period, travel is the only known panacea that can alleviate people out of mental issues like depression, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, restlessness and other unwarranted fears due to COVID-19 pandemic.
