, Columnist
The Coronavirus Will Create a New Kind of Tourist
Shorter trips and lots of testing might become the new normal.
Leisure activities in Parkersburg, W.Va.
Photographer: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North AmericaThis article is for subscribers only.
Eventually the lockdowns will ease and public life will become somewhat safer, even though a vaccine will still be a ways off. At that point a species that has been in hibernation will begin to emerge: namely, the tourist.
I have visited about 100 countries over the past few decades, and when this outbreak subsides I am looking forward to getting back on a plane. The thrill of seeing a new place, soaking in its customs and pondering its cultural puzzles, is one of my greatest joys in life. It also helps knit the world together, and I believe it encourages global trade and peace.