Racism, like in many other sectors of society, has been built into the travel industry. Globe Aware, a nonprofit that specializes in volunteer vacations, takes their responsibility to be anti-racist seriously.

How the Travel Industry Can Do Its Part in the Fight Against Racism

ALEX TEMBLADOR
JUNE 02, 2020
TravelPulse.com

One of the first features I wrote about the subject of race and racism in the travel industry, a travel executive reached out to me to ask me who or what had made me so angry to write the piece. As a brown woman of color, he was essentially inferring that I was an “angry brown woman,” a stereotype that has long been used to highlight women of color who discuss controversial topics such as racism.

To say that I wasn’t surprised by his reaction is accurate. The travel industry tends to think of itself as a space of leisure, fun, and escape where such things like racism are left behind for good times. The problem is, for black individuals and people of color, escaping racism is not something they can do by taking a vacation. Racism, like in many other sectors of society, has been built into the travel industry, both knowingly and unknowingly.

Travel is slowly starting up again and people locked down for months want to go out, whether its a road trip or international volunteer vacation. Learn how you can safely explore the world without endangering yourself or others.

Is it safe to travel now? It depends.

Here are the best practices for getting on the road without endangering your health—or anyone else’s.

BY JOHANNA READ
National Geographic

PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2020

ALTHOUGH MANY RESTRICTIONS are still in place, travel is slowly starting up again. People locked down for months want to stretch their legs, see something other than a screen, and boost the economy. Restaurants and some tourist attractions (Florida’s Universal Orlando Resort, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) are opening for local and domestic travel. A few countries (Greece, Italy) are starting to welcome international travelers.

But how can you safely explore a world of potentially deadly encounters with friendly people who might infect you (or who you might expose to the virus)? Is the airplane really a soaring petri dish? Is visiting a national park possible while social distancing? And if you choose a seemingly safer road trip, can you stop to use a public restroom?

Once Thailand opens to international tourists, they’ll likely only be able to visit certain vacation spots. This will be beneficial for both tourists and local residents, Globe Aware will continue to track when volunteer vacations can resume in their Thailand locations as well.

THAILAND REOPENING TO TOURISTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

MAY 29, 2020

TREVOR KUCHERAN
TRAVEL NEWS

The Thailand Tourism Authority has said that tourists will have to wait a few more months before visiting.

The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that tourism could return in the fourth quarter of this year.

Here is everything you need to know about Thailand reopening to tourists and what to expect when one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world opens their border.

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations such as Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles. Volunteer vacation destinations closer to the U.S.’s proximity may be more likely to open for travel.

U.S. ‘Travel Bubbles’ Would Let Us Fly Safely and Bring Back Millions of Jobs

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles.

Andres Oppenheimer
Miami Herald (TNS)
May 26, 2020

With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles” — or corridors — between countries. That’s what Australia and New Zealand have just done, and it should be done everywhere.

Granted, it may be too soon to expect a significant resumption of international travel in the Americas. But it’s time to start planning for it.

Mexico, one of the top ten countries in the world for travel and tourism plans to reopen its doors to travelers starting in June but not all at the same time. Globe Aware is closely monitoring as the country opens regions in stages.

(CNN) — Mexico, one of the top ten countries in the world for tourism according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), plans to reopen its doors to travelers starting in June — albeit not all at the same time.

Similar to other nations globally, Mexico has been on lockdown due to Covid-19, forcing hotels and restaurants to temporarily close their doors and putting pre-booked tours on hold, such as cenotes snorkeling trips, Mexico City food tours and excursions to Mayan ruins.

For most countries, staying isolated is not an option they can afford long-term, and experts predict it’s just a matter of time before other countries create travel bubbles of their own. What is the future of tourism? Countries are searching for pair-up partners, that appear to have their outbreaks under control, Globe Aware will be staying updated with this information as well.

The future of tourism in the coronavirus era: Asia may hold answers to what’s ahead

Julia Hollingsworth and Kocha Olarn
CNN
May 13, 2020

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) — It’s a sunny day on Bangkok’s most famous tourist street, and shopkeeper Cletana Thangworachai is open for business.

Her Khao San Road shop is crowded with shiny magnets, brightly colored elephant key rings and the patterned cotton pants that have become an unofficial uniform for backpackers in Southeast Asia.

But for now, there’s no one to buy them.

Coronavirus will change your next volunteer vacation because you may be paying less for travel, and there will be more flexibility. Larger gatherings like festivals and concerts will not be at the forefront of many people’s travel plans.

Coronavirus will reshape your next trip, for better or worse. Here’s what to expect

Christopher Elliott
Special to USA TODAY

Henry Perez’ summer vacation will be a little different this year. In addition to packing his swimsuit and camera for an Eastern Caribbean cruise this August, he’s also planning to bring plenty of masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant.

“I will now personally sanitize my whole stateroom,” says Perez, who works for an extermination company in Boston. “The attendants do a good job, but I want that extra layer of security.”

While the number of tourists on Thai beaches have fallen, the number of rare sea turtle has grown!

Coronavirus lockdown boosts numbers of Thailand’s rare sea turtles

Largest number of nests of leatherbacks found in two decades as beaches emptied

Reuters

Thailand has discovered the largest number of nests of rare leatherback sea turtles in two decades on beaches bereft of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic, environmentalists say.

From wild boars strolling through the Israeli city of Haifa to deer venturing into London suburbs, lockdowns are drawing wildlife into many emptied areas.

You Can Now Tour 2,500 World-Famous Museums From the Comfort of Your Own Sofa

By McKinley Corbley
Good News Network
Mar 17, 2020

If you have suddenly found yourself confined to your home during the COVID-19 shutdowns, Google has launched an ingenious new service that allows art lovers to get their culture fix from the comfort of their own home.

Google Arts and Culture has partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries around the world in order to offer virtual tours and online displays of their collections to internet surfers.