The day we will always remember from here on out as The Day the World Stopped Traveling. One by one every major country in the world affected by coronavirus is closing down its borders, and this weekend it seems to have accelerated across almost every section of the world map. Although we are seeing positive signs of recovery in the earliest hit regions of China, soon I expect to see a headline in The Atlantic, always known for its definitive, didactic headlines: World Closes Border.
These are existential times for the global travel industry. Since the start of Skift, I have been beating the drum with these two lines to anyone who would listen (and if you have ever seen me speak, in *every* speech I have ever given): Travel is the world's largest industry, let's start acting like it! Travel is the geopolitical center of the world, deal with it!
Well, now the world has surely heard in the deafening silence of a grounded planet. Travel is the most consequential industry in the world, as it's now finding out due to lack of travel.
As a company in travel, Skift is in the eye of the Category 10 storm while also covering the story of this storm nonstop, 24/7. We are covering the most consequential moment of our lifetime, and we aim to be the most consequential company deciphering this for the global travel industry and for the world to understand what is happening in travel right now, why, and what the path ahead is.
Our Editorial and Research teams are doing some of the best work today. They're not just covering the news but also giving context and insights into *everything* happening while putting Skift's accountability lens on this industry as we always do. Support our quality journalism by reading it, sharing it, and subscribing to our deeper dive subscription services.
We have multiple ways of accessing our coverage:
There is a lot more to come from the Skift team; our value will be even more apparent in the recovery phase. I have said in the past that travel is the most progressive expression of human curiosity, and I have zero doubt that the sector will recover and the world will bounce back to traveling, even if it takes a while to get back up and return to pre-coronavirus traveler numbers.
As a small business, we are not immune to the hurt everyone in travel is going through. Support independent journalism and research in the world's most consequential sector by supporting Skift. The sector deserves the serious and sustained coverage we provide.