The Right Time to Travel

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The horrendous fires in Australia gives us all pause to reflect.

Environmental damage has been swift and devastating.  The plight of a half million animals estimated to have died in the blazes is particularly heart-wrenching, because while we certainly don't like seeing plants and trees burned, we know they will grow back.

Fires play a part in the natural clearing of deadwood and underbrush while enriching the soil so that new growth sprouts in the ashes, but anyone who has driven past a burned-down forest knows the transition recreating the beauty there takes many years.

It also reminds us that we should appreciate the world around us --- and particularly nature --- while we are in the present moment, because no one knows what the future holds in our lifetimes.

My vendors from Australia have been sending many calming messages to say that while the fires have been devastating, the vast majority of Australia remains open for tourism. 

Australia/New Zealand cruises continue to go as scheduled, and there are some incredible values, including aboard the wonderful small-ship line Azamara.

Australia relies on tourism economically, just like many other destinations around the globe. 

Americans have been an important part of overseas tourism, an industry which really has only been prominent for about fifty years.  Before that, most people stayed relatively close to home.

As of recently, Asian countries like Japan and China also have many travelers abroad, as they take advantage of new prosperity not available to prior generations, but the USA continues to be the prime engine of tourism.

While you may be traveling because you want to see distant shores, you are simultaneously helping economies around the world.  When we were in Lisbon in 2018, our excursion guide made clear that Portugal's tourist industry lived and died based on how well the American economy fared.

Right now, we have the highest stock market, highest total employment, lowest unemployment in any demographic and average hourly income that has actually shaken off years of stagnation to grow somewhat dramatically.

Most likely, you are financially better off than ever, and as such recognize perhaps you should travel and see the places of your dreams while you still can.

However, remember that while we live right now at an unusually prosperous time, at some point in the future, the economy will cool down.  Don't borrow to travel beyond your means.

In fact, make savings a part of your budget.

Even if your personal financial position does not diminish dramatically when wildfires of the economy strike --- and they inevitably will at some point, whether in the form of actual events like more stringent regulations or higher taxes, or headlines of calamity that drive irrational behavior --- you will have peace of mind to know that you have saved for a rainy day, not to mention money to spend on the travel deals that inevitably arrive when demand diminishes.

So, travel now, and travel later.  Win-win.

And remember, Australia is open for business, whether you choose to go now to see what all the fuss is about or next year, when seasons of change will have brought about rebirth.