How Agents Are Easing Travelers’ COVID-19 Fears

COVID-19

With the COVID-19 coronavirus problem of travelers persistent, experienced travel agents are implementing strategies focused on recommending alternative destinations, most often the Caribbean and South America, while providing evidence of the disease and also emphasizing the key role of travel insurance.

"A lot of people are worried," said Linda Dancer, owner of Honeymoons, Inc. "It looks like the customers are fine, but the family members watching the news panic and make the customers wonder what to do."

"We certainly hear from customers who have questions," said Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations. "Many ask for assumptions such as" what if the flights are canceled to the United States?

"I get a lot of good questions," said Garey Bell, independent consultant at ProTravel. "Anyone who has to travel in the coming months, we have conversations about other destinations."

Just the Facts

Agents contacted by journey YUGO (Travel News Site) provide customers with updated information from authoritative sources. "At VIP, we like to share statistics and facts," said Doncsecz. "As of [March 2], directly from the CDC, COVID-19 has caused 3,085 reported deaths worldwide [including] six deaths in the United States," she said.

Conversely, "the seasonal flu has caused 291,000 to 646,000 deaths worldwide [and causes] 12,000 to 61,000 deaths in the United States per year," she said. "If the seasonal flu has not prevented access to the United States, it will take many more than six deaths to do so."

Dancer takes care to communicate updates from suppliers as well as information about CDC disease and other recognized sources. "I share all the updates from cruise lines [and] tourist offices," she said. “Sandals Resorts and several airlines have published their official coronavirus reviews. I continue to share information as I receive it. "

The dancer's point of view has been shaped by previous illness fears that have had an impact on travel over the past decade, a point she emphasizes with clients.

"I share similar media frenzy experiences with clients regarding avian flu, zika and all the other epidemics we have experienced in the past 10 years," she said. "I certainly don't want to minimize the risk, but I'm trying to talk to [customers] about reason. My son is traveling on a European cruise in May and I also discussed this with him. "

"It really comes down to educating, being smart, and giving my customers the ammo to make the right decision," said Bell. "We had our monthly meeting yesterday and [ProTravel] uses all the advice from the CDC and all the partners send us updates on how they are handling the situation."

Destination Planning

European destinations and (predictably) countries and regions where the disease has been reported are experiencing the largest travel declines, while resorts in the Caribbean and Central and South America appear to be the most popular alternatives.

"Some customers traveling to Europe in the next 30 days or so have decided to delay their trip and book a mini moon in the Caribbean or Mexico," said Dancer. "We will plan the European route again at a later date."

On his agency's Facebook page, Tom Carr of Preferred Vacations says that travelers who "are looking for a place to hide from the coronavirus [should] go to Costa Rica!"

While the Caribbean is the most frequently mentioned alternative destination, isolated cases of the disease have reached its shores. A 62-year-old Italian tourist staying in a hotel in the Dominican Republic has been diagnosed with the disease and has been placed in segregation, according to a report by local media. In addition, an MSC Cruises ship was not allowed to dock in two Caribbean ports last week by local officials who expressed concerns about the disease.

Yet Dominic Fedee, Minister of Tourism for Saint Lucia and President of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), said that Caribbean destinations continue to welcome leisure travelers while respecting crucial health protocols.

"It's not us against the ships or the passengers, but it's really a" hold hands and do this together "attitude, and I think that's the only way to win," said Fedee. "I think we have to be extremely careful that we are safe rather than sorry. [Coronavirus] is a global crisis that requires a creative approach. "

Fedee said tourism-dependent Caribbean destinations, through CTO, work with global health organizations. "We receive constant advice from the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization and many of our respective countries deal with CARPHA (the Caribbean Public Health Agency). So we get the best expert advice."

"The CTO works with CARPHA and follows their protocols," added Neil Walters, Acting Secretary General of the CTO. “On an ongoing basis, CARPHA has updated us and our members with new relevant information to manage and control the spread of the virus. So far, they have issued us several protocols. This [will continue] during the outbreak of this disease."

Fedee said that despite the crucial importance of tourism to the economies of the Caribbean, "This is a case where health must take the lead and tourism must follow. The health and safety of our fellow citizens, our customers and humanity in general, comes first and foremost as this crisis approaches,” he said. "Our security is greater than any individual cruise call or plane flight."

Insurance Options

Bell has stated that it takes this opportunity to re-emphasize the importance of travel insurance with its customers, in particular "canceling for any reason" the policies purchased before departure.

"The only thing I would add is travel insurance," he said. "People spend $ 20,000 on travel and when you buy travel insurance, because it's not tangible, and it's not sexy, people don't want to pay a few hundred dollars for what can ultimately protect all of their travel, "he said.

"All of a sudden we have conversations [travel insurance] and people are ready to pay. Travel insurance should always be part of the conversation. But I think people are more comfortable with keep their trips if they are protected."

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