When the world is going through a pandemic that is shaking the very foundation of travel and tourism sector everywhere in the world, is it safe to plan an international trip during a pandemic? The Delta virus, a potent variant of the COVID-19, took the lives of thousands of Indians this year and affected millions of people who were rushed into hospitals and COVID care centres for treatment. As India is slowly opening up to travelling to international destinations, how is that one should actually plan an overseas trip?

The first point to consider is to travel to places where there is less Corona case load or those least affected. The website of WHO will give you an idea of the least affected regions in the world. Safety first, rest can wait until normalcy is eventually restored. Check the latest stats including the daily COVID cases, active COVID patients, number of people vaccinated, death rate, etc. before travelling overseas.  These are not just metrics, but critical data which will help you make an informed decision to whether travel or not in the first place.

Check if pre-bookings can be cancelled in the event of an unforeseen circumstances. Most air travel bookings made before the outbreak of the second wave of the pre-pandemic period have been cancelled, according to multiple reports by major tour operators. This is due to the uncertainty looming in large owing to the impact of the second wave in most countries.

Remember to check if there are any travel restrictions in place. In the case of a lockdown, public spaces will be inaccessible and you may have to narrow down your travel choices. Finally, get yourself vaccinated for assured safety before planning your overseas tour. Check what sorts of test and vaccination are needed before travelling overseas.