Travel Trade Rises Like A Phoenix From The Ashes. As Always.
- Jan 15, 2021
- 4 min read
Written by: Stefan Eng, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Over a couple of decades, the travel trade has been challenged by several crises. But without any exception, this fantastic industry always rose like a Phoenix from the ashes and came back. How come, you might ask? To understand why, I looked back. And the answer, I believe, is found our history from centuries ago. And more recent events tell us it was not a “one-off.”
Curiosity conquered the fear.
The explorer and writer Marco Polo for (1254-1324) instance. When he left Italy to travel the Silk Road to Asia, did he know he would spend the next 24 years traveling and exploring before coming back? I would say probably not. But for sure, he must have known it was not going to be a weekend trip. Even though he was traveling with his father, who had previous traveling experience, was he ever scared to go? Scared to meet the adventure, whatever it might be? I think we can all agree that Mr. Polo, including his father and other companions, were all very brave, traveling without knowledge on what to expect on the way. The curiosity conquered the fear. Would you even consider experience the same adventure without technical facilities that exist today?
On the other hand, Cristopher Columbus (1451-1506) only spent 12-24 months away from home, but Several times instead. In fact, he traveled overseas four times, and mainly he explored the Caribbean. However, at the time, the theory of the earth being round rather than flat was not recognized everywhere. Even though Columbus was a believer, how could he be 100% sure not to sail too close and fall over the edge behind the horizon?
And like Mr. Marco Polo, he must have been very excited over what to expect when reaching the final destination. But was he ever afraid to meet with other people, different cultures, and complex, strange languages? Or was the curiosity and need to know more too strong also for Columbus?
Have courage, take a ride in the largest firecracker in the world!
Amongst more recent explorers we find are, of course, Neil Armstrong and Christa McAuliffe, both astronauts and two of the very few people on the planet who had a chance to travel to space. In both cases, I would imagine that it was a dream from their childhood, when they, like most kids, look at the sky and ask, "Hey, what’s out there?"
Moving from that theoretical question into a situation where you take a seat inside the biggest firecracker in the world and then ask someone to ignite it, that takes some courage, doesn’t it? If you are really honest, would you actually do that ride? Would you, in fact, be that brave in such a real-life situation? Especially after knowing Christa McAuliffe and the rest of the crew died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded, 1 minute and 12 seconds after takeoff, on 28 January 1986?
Most certainly, it was, and still is, the curiosity and interest in knowing more, that is driver.
To know about people, culture, languages, science, and technical progress. For sure, it takes some courage to accompany such an adventure where they are actually risking their lives in their search to discover and understand the yet unknown.
Curiosity & Courage is key for the future too.
Travel trade is under siege at present. However, it has occurred before, and it will happen again. Regardless, the travel trade has always raised like a Phoenix, from the ashes, and mankind continued exploring the world. The best proof is looking back through our history. Nothing has ever stopped mankind from explore, investigate and experience. This is also why the travel trade will never die. Viruses like the swine-flu, Spanish-flu, Act of good such as tsunamis, volcano outbreaks and floods; strikes, war's and other challenges has been in our way from time to time. But eventually, someone always took the lead in new discoveries.
How do you see the future of travel in thirty years?
So, what is your idea of the future of travel? How do you see that we travel and where too? What will be the purpose of our traveling in thirty years from now? Leisure, Business, or just Bleisure? Or maybe something that we don’t yet know about. The Discovery? Take a chance to share your theories and be a Guest Author with the Travel Employees Networking Group and let us know your theories for the future.
The biggest question I have is if mankind will have set foot on Mars in the year 2051? What do you think?
All information is available on our site in the Travel Employees Networking Group menu “Guest Author.”
For more information about Stefan Eng visit his website
Stefan Eng, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Stefan Eng has more than 37 years of experience working for Airlines, GDS's, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Airline IT Companies in this global industry. In 2008, Stefan founded the Travel Employees Networking Group in Linkedin. The group is now a relevant and strong platform to collaborate and discuss travel trends. In addition, members can find open positions or search for new candidates. At present, the group has more than 43 000 members.
To support the group, Stefan established in early 2020 the site www.travelemployees.com, an Online Magazine & Marketing Portal for Travel Professionals. Here the audience can find articles, quizzes and lists by Stefan and his Guest Authors as well as opportunities to advertise for (or find) the world's greatest travel products and services.
Travel Employees Networking Group's Online Magazine Travelemployees.com has been elected to be "One of the best Online Travel Magazines on the Planet" by Feedspot.
Stefan is also a consultant in the travel industry, providing services within especially Product Management, Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Web Design and Movie Creation.
