Since mid-year, several major destinations have relaxed short-stay tourist visa rules — extending permitted stays, simplifying documentation and opening online pre-screening.
Capacity has moved in step. Aviation data shows available seats on major long-haul routes back above 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with frequencies on some routes now higher than before.
The shape of trips is changing
Booking platforms report that family travel and longer stays account for a growing share of the recovery. Short cross-border trips of three days or fewer are growing more slowly.
People do not want to travel more. They want to stay longer when they do.— Product lead at an online travel platform
The industry cautions that easier visas do not mean faster borders. Queues at popular crossings remain long at peak hours, and travellers are advised to allow generous connection times.
Clearly written, and the section on the data is more solid than most coverage of this.
I had not thought about it from this angle. It did shift my view a little.
I had not thought about it from this angle. It did shift my view a little.
Hope there is a follow-up. These things tend to drop out of view after a few weeks.
I have seen something similar locally, and this matches what I noticed.