The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the global travel industry to a standstill and it is unlikely to ever be the same again. Two months into the pandemic, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bruce Poon Tip – founder of G Adventures – has responded to the crisis from isolation with his first instabook, a free, short e-book titled Unlearn: The Year the Earth Stood Still.
Bruce’s new book is designed to be a letter to those who love to travel, to inspire them to continue to dream of travelling, but to also challenge them to reimagine how to emerge from this pandemic with a renewed sense of purpose when selecting their next holiday.
We connected with Bruce in Toronto and asked him to share his thoughts for today and on the future of travel post Covid-19.
Pandemic Perspective …
There is no question travel has changed, that it won’t be the same on the other side of these days of global isolation. The world has come to a complete stop, so it’s devastating. It’s even beyond wartime circumstances – people can’t leave their own borders. We have no freedom to leave our own borders or to go anywhere. The world has never seen this at any point, so to describe it, I’d say it’s the most devastating thing we’ve ever seen. However, I remain confident that travellers have the power to make the world a better place.
What will it look like on the other side?
I think there is a fine line between hope and hard reality. I think there is also a difference between what I would like to see and what might actually be possible. We have a chance to reset everything. You, me, and every traveller in the global community has the chance to rethink, restart, and rejuvenate the idea of what travel should be and could be. This is about the potential for travel to be anything we want it to be on the other side.
What will travel look like post COVID-19?
As human beings, we adapt very quickly and that’s served us well throughout evolutionary times. The greatest example of this is 9-11. It’s normal now to not being allowed to bring liquids on airplanes, we’ve adapted. The vetting process we go through now at airports is so much more intense compared to before 9-11. People have short-term memories when it comes these things, so it will become normal for us to wear a mask now.
There will be a lot of transparency in terms of cleaning protocols and people wanting single rooms. People will be less likely to want to go to crowded resorts or board ships with thousands of people on them.
Also, we’ll also see a rise in independent travel, special groups and small groups of people coming together as friends and travelling with other groups that they know are taking the same level of precautions that they are.
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First Place you’ll visit after the pandemic restrictions are lifted?
Japan! The perfect mix of all the things that make travel great – culture, cuisine and history, and I have recently become an advocate for forest bathing, a Japanese practice that helps people connect with nature.
Where in the world have you felt happiest?
Madrid, Spain.
What’s the one thing you pack for every trip?
Wine gums
What’s your essential item for making travel more comfortable?
Disinfectant wipes.
What’s your guilty pleasure while travelling?
Food. When I’m home I watch what I eat but when I’m away, I eat at restaurants for all three meals, and tend to indulge and eat what I want.
What’s your pet travel peeve?
Countries that make you fill out multiple forms from multiple agencies asking for the same info upon arrival. It doesn’t give you a great first impression of the country.
What piece of travel advice do you love to share?
Never leave the country without having a meal or sharing food with a local. Equally important, support locally owned businesses, and in doing it so, you can spread the wealth around and create good jobs and business opportunities in places that sorely need the investment.
Who is your favourite travelling companion?
Most of my business travel is alone. I cherish that time when I can unplug, think and read on airplane rides. Those trips are usually by myself though. My favourite travelling companions are my family.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met on your travels?
I met Bryan Adams on a plane and had the chance to chat with him. He’s an interesting guy. But in destination, it’d have to be the Dalai Lama. He’s always inspiring and he’s the only person that I’ve met a few times and remain in awe every time.
I lost my heart in...
Hoi An, Vietnam. Beautiful place, beautiful people, beautiful food and extremely charming nightlife.
What’s the place you were/are most nervous about visiting?
In some areas of West Africa, where there are issues around food security.
Which travel experience most changed your worldview and why?
Traveling to Tibet forever changed my world view and the connection between life, business, heart and spirituality.
Tell us about a time when you got lost and what you learned from it.
I once got lost in Little Havana, Miami, and it was an enriching experience. It forced me to connect with locals and I ended up meeting someone who ran a Cuban salsa fitness class. I returned and attended one of the classes.
If you could live in any other city in the world (other than your own), which would it be
and why?
Windhoek, Namibia. It’s a German settlement with modern conveniences. You can travel between old, traditional and new Africa. There’s high-speed Internet and technology, and great schools. I actually planned to move there at one point to run the company. I still hope to live there one day.
To download a copy of ‘Unlearn: The Year the Earth Stood Still,’ go to https://unlearn.travel.
