Now that the toughest days caused by COVID-19 seem to be behind us, all economic sectors are reinventing themselves and adapting their supply of goods and services to a world in which these health aspects are the top priority. A readjustment that is already taking place in sectors such as tourism, a fundamental pillar of the Spanish economy, which accounts for 12% of GDP and more than 2.6 million jobs in our countryaccording to data from the National Institute of Statistics. Today we will see how the main destinations, operators and tourism service providers are adapting their proposal to the post-COVID situation; and what will be the main trends in the world of travel during 2020 and the near future horizon. A future that poses a whole new set of new health requirements that have already been implemented in the Museum of Wine and Winery Culture. de la Bodega at Vivancothe main wine tourism destination in La Rioja, which can now be visited again after its reopening on 1 July.
What will the holidays be like after COVID-19?
The new needs set by the health criteria established to ensure the safety of the population following the influence of COVID-19 pose a colossal challenge for the tourism industry worldwide. With a 95% drop in scheduled flights and the closure of many borders, it is time to rethink tourism in order to shift the approach towards a more sustainable tourism industry. a much more local offer and towards plans compatible with health demands. Thus, almost all tourism experts agree in foreseeing some common trends in the trips we will be making in the coming months. The main ones are:
- Increase in domestic tourism and local destinations to the detriment of international travel. The fall in air traffic and the closure of many borders as a measure to curb the pandemic will certainly lead to an increase in the choice of national and local destinations. According to a post-COVID-19 tourism study by Ipsos and THR, 71% of Spaniards aged 18-65 plan to travel during 2020 and 90% of them will travel within Spain.
- Delaying travel dates and reducing the length of holidays.Containment measures have meant that a large proportion of travellers have had to cancel or postpone their holiday plans. Thus, although most of the people surveyed in the study said they had travel plans for August (37%), the second preferred month for holidays in Spain will now be September (22%), instead of July (19%), which had been the most common option before COVID-19. On the other hand, experts also anticipate shorter trips in terms of duration, with local destinations prevailing over more distant ones. The foreseeable savings needs of travellers in the coming months contribute to reinforce this hypothesis.
- Rural tourism, plans for relaxation in coastal areas or getaways to nature are some of the options that will grow the most over the coming months. Travel proposals that allow greater compatibility with COVID-19 prevention health measures such as social distancing, preference for open spaces, or avoiding crowds. Following the end of the state of alarm, bookings for motorhome and other recreational vehicle rentals have also skyrocketed, making it possible to travel "with the house on your back". A holiday option that allows you to enjoy open spaces, with freedom and flexibility when choosing destinations, and minimising the use of public facilities.
- Tourism that is more responsible, sustainable and committed to caring for the environment and the social fabric of the destination. This is one of the optimistic readings that can be drawn from the COVID-19 crisis and which is supported by tourism experts such as María Rosa Domínguez Galcerán, lecturer at the University of Girona and head of the Euroaula Tourism Department; or Philipp Weghmann, Executive Vice-President in Europe of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Both agree in pointing out that the influence of the pandemic will help to accelerate the shift from a model of mass tourism to one that is much more aware of the footprint it leaves behind.
Winery and Museum Vivanco of the Culture of Wine, a safe destination
After months of confinement, on 1st July it was time to reopen the doors of the Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture and our Winery. We were looking forward to the moment when we could resume the activity that gives meaning to the whole project Vivanco: sharing the Wine Culture. Therefore, because we are all about sharing, we have spent months preparing this reopening to be able to do so with all the guarantees of safety for our visitors. Thus, we are currently in the process of obtaining the quality seal of approval Safe Tourism Certified issued by the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute which certifies that a tourist site complies with all the security measures established by the Ministry of Health. to prevent COVID-19, from the visitor's arrival and reception and throughout their experience.
These are some of the measures main health and hygiene measures we have taken to guarantee safety during visits to the Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture and our Winery:
- We have trained and equipped all our staff so that they can carry out their work in accordance with official anti-COVID-19 protocols, both for the protection of visitors and the workers themselves.
- We have implemented the widespread use of face masks, hydroalcoholic gel and polypropylene gloves.
- Regular protocols for thorough cleaning and disinfection of all facilities are planned.
- The washing of dishes and uniforms at a temperature of 80ºC has been implemented to ensure disinfection.
- The routes within the facilities have been adapted so that they are one-way.
- Reservations for visits must be made online and information materials in physical format have been eliminated, replaced by QR codes so that the same information is available on the visitor's mobile device. Payment for purchases and services will also be prioritised through electronic payment services. You can buy your ticket here.
- Group visits will be staggered in order to avoid crowds.
- With the same objective in mind, the maximum capacity of the facilities and the size of visiting groups has been reduced to comply with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
In short, we are constantly working to make this new normality as safe as possible for everyone and to be able to continue sharing with the world all the good things that wine has given us and continues to give us. Even in these difficult times.
Here you can know in depth all the anti-COVID-19 security measures adopted and the rest of the information related to the visits to the Winery and the Museum Vivanco of Wine Culture and the rest of the experiences Vivanco.
We are waiting for you!
