The COVID-19 pandemic stopped people from traveling internationally in countries worldwide, including the United States.
People could not fly anywhere because major national government agencies imposed strict travel restrictions and safety measures on travel, such as lockdowns. These harsh restrictions lasted for nearly two years.
Fortunately, most travel restrictions stemming from the pandemic have since been lifted. People can freely travel around the United States and fly to different countries as they could before the pandemic. And the statistics reflect this tremendously.
According to the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average number of weekly commercial flight departures in America went from 50,000 in April 2020 to 200,000 in April 2022.
The amount of travel in the United States has increased substantially following the end of the pandemic travel restrictions.
Why Is There an Increase in Travel After the Pandemic?
People are anxious to travel again after being forced to stay home for nearly two years. Due to the frustrating lockdown measures during the pandemic, many could not even travel during the holidays or go on vacations to see their loved ones.
But that all changed after government agencies lifted the lockdown restrictions. People did not waste time flying around the country and world to visit family and friends.
Euronews published an interesting article about how countless people are engaging in “revenge travel” following the lockdowns that made it impossible to travel internationally.
Many people apparently want to seek “revenge” against the government agencies that prevented them from travelling by traveling even more than before the pandemic.
According to the Euronews article, European airports experienced a nearly 250% increase in the number of passengers it processed during the first six months of 2022.
Now, in 2023, the rate of international travel does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Revenge travel and tourism allow people to express their contempt for the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions by traveling to as many places as possible.
The increase in people’s travel plans represents freedom and liberty while signaling to the government that they never want to be forced to stay home again.
Where Are People Travelling Now?
Travelers may want to see friends and family members again, but they also want to take the dream vacations they thought about for nearly two years during the lockdowns.
Below are the top four places where people are traveling after the pandemic to make those dreams come true:
1) Paris, France
International travelers have always loved visiting Paris, France because it is the city of love and liberty.
Now that the pandemic restrictions are over, people are returning to Paris to experience its historic cafés, restaurants, and landmarks like the Eiffel Tower.
2) Orlando, Florida
A wave of international visitors continues entering Orlando, Florida, to experience its famous theme parks, including Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.
3) London, England
British royalty has been in the news a lot lately due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth and all the controversies following Prince Philip and his wife, Megan Markle.
Millions of people travel to London, England, to visit Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, and Stonehenge.
4) Mexican Beaches
Despite what you might see about it in the news, Mexico is an ideal country for travelers. The country offers affordable travel accommodations, food, and beautiful beaches on the Pacific Coast.
Check out beautiful Mexican beaches like Playa Zicatela in Oaxaca, Playa Paraiso in Tulum, Playa del Amor in Nayarit, and Zihuatanejo in Guerrero.
Conclusion
National government bodies probably realize the mistakes they made by imposing strict travel lockdowns for far too long.
People do not want to feel isolated or restricted in their freedom to travel wherever they want.
That is why we see this increase in domestic and international travel in the United States and worldwide.
