Albeit in a different light.
When the news first broke on December 31, 2019 that China was tracking dozens of cases of an unknown pneumonia, for the most part few folks outside of Wuhan China and the global scientific community paid much attention.
Not until January 20th, 2020 when reports of what we now know as Covid-19 started to climb in Japan, Thailand and South Korea, did concerns begin to rise.
On Jan.30th amid thousands of new cases in China, a "public health emergency of international concern" was declared by the World Health Organization.
Early February saw a large number of cases hit the 1st of many cruise ships and by mid February outbreaks were being widely reported in France, Italy and Iran.
In the weeks that were to follow, areas of the Middle East, Latin America, Canada and the United States were now all reporting cases and in some instances- deaths.
On the morning of March 11th, the World Health Organization declared Covd-19 as a Pandemic.
And on Friday March 13th, The Canadian Government issued it's *do not travel internationally* advisory which of course began the process of locking down the
country along with much of the rest of the world.
At the time there were more than a few Monday Morning Quarterbacks whose opinions ranged from one end of the spectrum to the other as to how long the hard stop would last.
Optimistic suppliers felt they should be able to resume operations in a couple of months whereas others stood on a platform to decree to all that would listen "the end is here".
In time we'd learn that somewhere in between would probably hunt down the root cause and provide minds greater than mine with a road map going forward.
We are now closing in on 11 months since the first sign of "something ain't right here folks" and we've still a ways to go.
Despite our best effort to comply in some areas, the virus is what is currently controlling the timeline and until we get a handle on either a tested proven treatment and/or a tested proven vaccine - the hands of the travel industry are tied.
I'd love to stand up and say to you we are weeks away from beating this thing but the reality of clinical testing, managing setbacks, trial testing, larger scale testing and even larger scale distribution logistics demands time frames much longer than most of us are hoping for.
*And so we will fulfill our travel dreams again - just perhaps not in the early stages of this Winter.*
Positive results are starting to emerge albeit slowly.
Some of the coveted Mexican and Caribbean sun spots are starting to open up with a slate of fresh protocols designed to ensure that the safety standards needed to restore confidence are in place.
Small private yachts capable of comfortably accommodating 6-8 cohorts are making their way into the 1 week rental marketplace.
Intimate hotels on a beach removed from the masses are rapidly garnering favor.
And for those with means and willingness, private jet charters are garnering more attention than was the case a year ago. For most of us, the urge to get away especially in the midst of an Alberta Winter is as natural as drawing breath. It's the getting away "safely" that we're all focused on at this point. As of the end of October - "we're not quite there yet". Yes - we're making positive inroads with respect to the advancement of trial testing a vaccine, but as any scientist worth his or her salt will tell you - "we're not quite there yet".
For most of us, the urge to get away especially in the midst of an Alberta Winter is as natural as drawing breath.
It's the getting away "safely" that we're all focused on at this point.
As of the end of October - "we're not quite there yet".
Yes - we're making positive inroads with respect to the advancement of trial testing a vaccine, but as any scientist worth his or her salt will tell you - "we're not quite there yet".
The airline industry which currently is operating at less than 10% capacity is struggling to determine what kind of Winter schedule they can operate and at the very least break even on, but with current demand somewhat less than stellar - they're caught in a holding pattern.
2020 has been an extraordinary year for everyone and a disastrous year for a good many.
That we will get through this is a given albeit not necessarily unscathed.
And as we do - we will travel again.
And when we do - have your Ultimate Travel Journal prepped and ready to go.
As Walter Gretzky once said to son Wayne - *"Skate to where the puck is going, not to where it has been"*
Dave Heron
Pace Setter Travel & Tours
