There are no modern precedents for the speed and scope with which COVID-19 has disrupted virtually every aspect of human interaction. Within these disruptions are the tectonic shifts impacting how people travel.

For the moment, managing travel risk is relatively straightforward, as it’s incredibly difficult to travel internationally. As restrictions are eased and governments unlock entry prohibitions, the real work of assessing travel risk will begin. The way forward will require a blend of bedrock principles and new metrics.

Before Travel Restarts

Patience and flexibility will be the principles to live by. Maintaining a defensible duty of care will not be possible under the pre-pandemic speed of business. Political expediency will overtake scientific consensus in some locations, leading to a premature unwinding of safety protocols. The risk landscape will require closer inspection and constant re-evaluation. Open for business does not automatically equate to safe for business. Decisions about when and where to travel will necessitate a larger audience than was previously required. While building the process may feel administratively awkward and cumbersome at the outset, as with most things, it will eventually find its own level.