Many aspects of our lives have been hit by the Coronavirus. We have written several times about how our lives have changed in the last few weeks, and we have also raised questions as to whether life will return to what it was before 7 March – when the first case was registered – or else will change once this is over.

One major effect of the Coronavirus pandemic is the ban on travelling. Many of us had made visiting other countries a part of our lifestyle. Some managed to do it more than once during a year, reducing the length of stays so as to be able to visit more places, depending on our financial budget. Most travelled to nearby Europe, but over the years many became adventurous enough to go to far-flung places across the globe which became more accessible through better connectivity.

This has temporarily been stopped. Our airport and ports have been closed by law to contain the spread of the disease. We all know that the first cases reported in Malta were of people who had been to infected areas. And so, little by little, the government first stopped flights to and from countries with high numbers, and later closed the airport completely. Our ports are also closed to sea voyages related to leisure.

Health Minister Chris Fearne has said that if the numbers in Malta remain as low as they have been in the past days, some of the restrictions imposed by the government will be relaxed. We are sure that he is not referring to travel bans. Given the situation in other countries, especially those regularly frequented by the Maltese, we cannot go back to a situation when cases start to be imported once again.

It is likely that travelling will be the last bastion of restrictions that will come down, and this will happen only when the situation in Malta will be totally under control – as well as the situations in other countries. It could be that, at first, travelling will be re-opened only to a limited group of nations, and will only be extended to others when the all clear is given. For sure, nobody would want to travel knowing that they will have to spend some days in quarantine when they get there, and some other days in quarantine when they return.

We have no doubt that just as much as it will take us time to re-adjust to the new normality within our own shores, it will also take us time to get used to travelling again. Every cough or sneeze on a plane will probably give us the shivers. And what if we get stuck on a cruise-ship which is refused entry? These are all questions that we will be asking ourselves before booking our next trip.

There will come a time when, before travelling is allowed, restrictions in Malta will be eased, including the lifting of the three-person rule and the reopening of places of entertainment, such as restaurants. During that time (and even afterwards), it would not be a bad idea to go to places on the islands we have never been to, or have not visited for years.

Internal tourism will play an important part to kick-start the economy after this dreaded Coronavirus period.