As outbreaks of coronavirus spread around the world, local travel agents have been fielding a tsunami of questions – most of which concern safety or money – from clients who have booked trips or planned to do so.
Some clients have cancelled or postponed travel, while others are watching and waiting, trying to figure out what to do, as flights are cancelled, travel bans are put in place, and cruise ports of call and borders close.
Travel consultant Lucy Lake of Frosch Indian River Travel in Central Beach says many clients simply want to know if a particular part of the world is safe. And many places certainly still are, she says, although the situation is fluid, to say the least.
Among countries with the virus outbreaks, she notes that Italy, one of the most popular tourist destinations for local travelers, is basically “on lockdown.”
Anecdotally, Lake mentions hearing from “some people already on a cruise” that Bali wouldn’t allow their ship to dock, and they were cruising around “trying to find a safe port.”
Because airlines, tour companies, hotels and other travel-oriented businesses all have their own refund guidelines, travelers who want to cancel may stand to lose a lot, or a little, says Lake, noting “there is no fear insurance.”
If a traveler wants to cancel tickets or reservations already booked and paid for due to concern about the virus, travel insurance does not cover that, so you could be out hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Doris Kwek of Treasure Coast Travel says the spread of coronavirus and fear of the infection have been especially tough on cruise lines and cruise passengers who can’t disembark in many locations, especially on the Asia routes.
She says Italy “has been the biggest surprise to Vero travelers. It’s one of the No. 1 destinations in Europe, and we’ve had an overwhelming number of calls from people rethinking [their plans to travel there]. Some people don’t even want to go to South America, or even the Galapagos. It’s going to be a rough run. It’s going to take a toll [on the travel industry].”
Ivy Tjok, owner of Prestige Travel, says “everybody has fear. Clients need to take the facts and make their own decisions,” using common sense and taking precautions. “People have to understand that the hotels, tours and airlines all feel the crunch. They can’t refund everybody.”
