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By any measure, 2022 was an unprecedented and at times groundbreaking year for leisure travelers. Since the release of “revenge” vacations, consumers have had greater access to international destinations since the outbreak.
The 566,893 flights operated in April 2022 were 86.9 percent of the 652,533 flights operated in April 2019 before the outbreak, Transportation Department officials said.
But travelers have faced unusual challenges in the past year. Of particular importance is the increasing vulnerability of the global air travel network, which has resulted in multiple delays, cancellations and disruptions affecting millions of holidaymakers.
As I pursue my career [travel writer] In the year I am by no means immune to the challenges of leisure travel in 2022. Almost all of my trips have been to Caribbean destinations, and not surprisingly, I’ve encountered many airport delays and long hours checking flight information boards.
However, my travel challenges in 2022 were nothing compared to the stories I heard. On the other hand, there were also several positive travel developments in 2022.
Like what, you ask? Well, don’t worry – I’ve collected a few of them in what I’ve decided to call “The High and Low Costs of Travel in 2022.” I hope you like the topic. Without further ado, here are the details, including a few observations:
High: return trip – As I mentioned before Leisure travel returns strongly in 2022. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported 250 million international migrants, a 46 percent increase from the 77 million reported between January and May 2021.
The travel sector has recovered to about half of its pre-pandemic levels in 2019, UNWTO officials said. “Tourism recovery has gathered momentum in many parts of the world, overcoming challenges along the way,” said Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Low: Delays and disruptions – Industry watchers expected leisure travel to face new challenges after the pandemic. Those fears were fueled in 2018, as thousands of flights were canceled, delayed or otherwise disrupted by bad weather, crew shortages and technical problems. In 2022, they became a reality.
Flight tracker FlightAware reports that 570,000 flights were delayed between Memorial Day and Labor Day last year. In June, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that customer complaints against airlines had increased more than 300 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
DoT officials added that complaints were down 15.6 percent in September, but three times higher than before the outbreak.
Leisure travelers have borne the brunt of the disruption as the airline network has been strained by continued activity. In the year Nearly 80 percent of people who traveled between January and July 2022 said they experienced price hikes, long waits, cancellations and poor service, according to a Bankrated study.
High: Personal awards – During my 2022 professional trip I visited several Caribbean countries, visited historical and natural sites and met with tourism authorities and stakeholders.
But without question, the highlight was being named a Nevis Tourism Ambassador by the Nevis Tourism Authority. The opportunity to highlight the island where my maternal great-grandmother was born was an incredible honor that I never expected and will always think of fondly.
My 2022 visit to Nevis was a fitting way to return to the Caribbean, which the UNWTO has identified as one of the world’s leading regions for leisure travel in 2022. Beyond St. Kitts and Nevis, I traveled to Nassau, Bahamas; Aruba; Cayman Islands; Dominican Republic; Cancun and Costa Mujeres, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Montego Bay, Jamaica last year.
Low: High weather spoils travel – In the summer of 2022, high temperatures tested travelers in locations from US national parks to cities in England, Spain, Norway and other parts of Europe.
London recorded a 104-degree Fahrenheit day in July 2022. Sky News reported an average temperature of 34 degrees above normal in the mid-70s. Scorching temperatures prompted members of Buckingham Palace’s stationary Queen’s Guard to take a quick water break.
Meanwhile, a snowstorm at Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport in December 2022 left thousands dead and travelers sleeping on luggage belts, loading ramps and luggage in an unheated airport.
Caroline Rose, a researcher at a Washington-based think tank, told the Insider website that conditions at the airport were “otherworldly” with food and water difficult to find.
Top: Travel insurance is priceless. – The widespread coverage of injuries sometimes associated with leisure travel has prompted many vacationers to purchase travel insurance in 2022.
A survey of carrier Allianz Global’s support issues found a number of instances where travelers experienced problems while on holiday last year.
A Santa Fe, New Mexico couple found themselves in an emergency after the wife was stung by a bee while standing on an Italian cruise ship. The traveler turned out to be allergic.
Other vacationers relate cases of broken bones after slipping on wet surfaces or getting out of vehicles on island excursions. In each case, Allianz officials said, the travelers purchased policies and received payment and assistance before departure.
“As our world becomes an increasingly unpredictable place, travelers are turning to travel insurance for travel protection and peace of mind,” said Allianz spokesman Daniel Durazzo.
Low: Weed based – In the year While 2022 saw the liberalization of recreational marijuana policies in several US states, those standards did not go into effect.
TravelPulse’s most-read story of 2022 reported that marijuana (somewhat unsurprisingly) remains airport contraband. “Marijuana and some cannabis-infused products remain illegal under federal law,” Transportation Security Administration officials said.
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