“Say to him: Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!” – 1 Samuel 25:6

In our routine day-to-day activities, physical well-being can be nurtured through a balanced mix of (1) good nutrition – engenders a healthy immune system; (2) appropriate exercise – builds strong muscles and stimulates deep breathing for a healthy cardiovascular system; (3) sound sleep – allows the body to recoup energy on its own; (4) peace of mind – sharpens the five senses, calms down the mind and the emotions, and enables you to focus more easily on mental and physical activities; and (5) hugs – release oxytocins in your brain naturally, help you to bond and strengthen interpersonal relationships.

The dynamic and growing leisure industry has identified that taking time away from our routine can have physical and psychological health benefits. And it’s helpful that the industry continually lures us to procure vacation packages to lower our stress levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, garner a better outlook on life, and motivate us to achieve goals.

We budget for our vacations and embark on vacations to exciting places, participate in exciting festivals and enjoy interesting foods. There is a subset of these vacation packages, called staycations. A staycation is a period in which an individual or family (1) stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home – it does not necessarily require overnight accommodation; or (2) goes to a local hotel for a weekend stay, for example, and enjoys the services offered at the hotel.

The benefits of staycations include not having to pack too much, not being exposed to exotic foods from other destinations and perhaps suffering Montezuma’s revenge, reducing travel expenses, saving foreign exchange, and avoiding the stress that sometimes accompanies the travel experience.

In summary, a staycation is a cost-effective alternative to taking a “real” vacation. Instead of flying to some faraway destination, a staycation brings the vacation experience to you. Staycations have become a very popular alternative to the traditional “pack your bags and go” vacation.

Now that we are experiencing COVID-19, a staycation takes on a new dimension since it is the only type of vacation that many of us can manage while respecting public health protocols. Countries whose airports are open and have agreed to form bubbles – because of the good management of the spread of the disease within their countries – are privileged.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has a comprehensive list of Caribbean countries and territories that are opening their borders, planning to do so soon or are changing their COVID-19 protocols. So, if you are planning a trip, contact www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com to get the latest information.

Also view The Marketplace Excellence (MPE) Caribbean Report every Friday for Caribbean news updates, which may include some very useful information about the region’s bread and butter tourism industry.

 

(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. His columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com/basil-springer-column/ and on www.facebook.com/basilgf).