2020-04-01_Business_Traveller_UserUpload.Net

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APRIL 2020 businesstraveller.com

W

elcome to the April issue of BusinessTraveller, andonethatseesusdriftfurtherintothe

unknown with the outbreak ofcoronavirus/Covid-19.IfI waswritingthisletterlastweek

(early March), I would have beenmakingtherightnoisesaboutnotlettingpanicovercomeus

and using common sense whendecidingwhethertotravel.Theninthespaceofa fewdays,

India suspended visas and e-visas for touristsandtravellers,othercountriesclosedtheirborderstothe

citizens of their near neighbours and DonaldTrumpinstituteda travelbanon 28 Europeancountries.

At the time of writing, airlines were groundingmostoftheirfleetsandouroptionsfortravelhadall

but vanished, even if we were frantically scramblingtogethome.Forthemostrecentdevelopments,

see our rolling news at businesstraveller.com.

So what now? Well the honest answeris,nooneknows.Theviruswillpasseventually,butwhatwill

be the lasting effect of all of this? I doubtthattheworldwillsoenjoyworkingfromhomethatthey

will all desert offices. And replacing businesstravelwithshouting,“Canyouhearme?”ata screenis

also unlikely. Travel can be stressful, but socantryingtogetthepictureandsoundtoworkona

conference call when there’s more than threepeopleusingthetechnolog y.Sotravelwillreturn.Still,

our confidence in the resilience of our societiesmighttakelonger.Let’shopenothingworsethan

another virus is around the corner.

IN THIS ISSUE

RESPONSIBLETRAVELLER

Newsupdatesonthedrive

towardssustainabilityinhotels

andtravel-relatedindustries.

(Page58)

BESIDE THE SEASIDE

Blackpool’s traditional historic

charms are complementedbysome

very 21st-century developments.

(Page 48)

ENTERPRISING OSAKA

This bustling city in the centre

of Japan has its own unique take

on life, food and business.

(Page 38)

SQUARINGACIRCLE

WillLonginesstarta trendby

targetingitslatestsquarecreation

atmenratherthanwomen?

(Page60)

TomOtleyEditorialdirector

WELCOME

ILLUSTRATION: BENJAMIN SOUTHAN