Millions of people who have been spending an excess amount of time at home over the last few months are now unsurprisingly eager to get out and make a change this year.

Many people started booking vacations again, hotel bookings have increased recently, but there is still a great deal of pessimism facing the travel industry.

There are still many regions who have forced non-essential businesses to be closed, and who are still enforcing social distancing rules and limited capacity rules etc, for a variety of businesses. And these aren't the only difficulties in the way.

The vaccine announcements that have been coming through might be building some optimism with those who are looking to get one, but they don't come without their own issue. For example, if you are looking to travel in 2021 or after you might need a new COVID-19 vaccination passport that confirms you have received a vaccine before being allowed to enter the destination of your choice. If that becomes the mandatory state of things then there will be many people who will refrain from traveling ever again until that demand changes, if it ever does.

The travel industry has lost an estimated $1 trillion because of COVID-19 and millions of travel industry jobs have also been lost. It's estimated that some 200 possible travel industry jobs are now gone.

Without that tourism industry there are many regions who stand to lose tens of billions, and for the United States it could be $155 billion or more. Thousands of other businesses, big and small, which cater to that market, and those businesses which cater to them etc, have been greatly impacted by the changes. Millions of people who depend on this industry to make a living have been suffering for months without it.

Some have suggested that we might see a "roaring 20s boom" sometime soon because of how much people were forced to be locked up last year. After the forced closures for bars, hotels, movie theaters, and other venues, it's expected that people will want to spend, drink, and get out to finally have some fun and adventure when they can get that opportunity again.

The vaccination status and potential for COVID-19 passports could easily become a bump in the road to that boom in business for the travel industry but there is also another problem.

Not Enough Money For Travel

Many people are struggling just to get by right now and they do not have the disposable income to be dedicated to travel and entertainment. This lack of income is going to stand in the way of people being able to go on whatever travel adventure they might want to plan for themselves and their family.

So far, only 14 percent of Americans have booked any travel for this year that brings them outside of their own state.

Some might have been able to save money during 2020 but that wasn't the case for everyone.

It is estimated that 63 percent of Americans have been living paycheck to paycheck since COVID-19 first hit.

For millions of people all they can think about right now is trying to pay for their basics such as a roof over their head, health insurance, or food, and they don't have the luxury of entertaining the possibility of any vacation just yet.

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