Hobart travel agents say travellers remain nervous about heading overseas
The opening of Australian state and territory borders will provide a welcome boost to travel agents, but a snap back to pre-Covid normalcy is not expected for some time.
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HOBART travel agents are cautiously optimistic about business picking up as Australian state and territory borders open, but they say travellers are still nervous about the prospect of going overseas.
Travel agents’ business models were severely tested by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many operators forced to lay off staff.
But rising vaccination rates and the opening of borders nationwide has given renewed hope that they will be given a boost.
Jane Johnston, who has decades of experience in the industry and has been the owner of Travel with a Cause in Hobart for the past 16 years, said the potential cost of pre-travel Covid tests and uncertainty internationally were barriers for travellers.
She estimated the award-winning Travel with a Cause, a not-for-profit agency with a philanthropic policy, had handled about a quarter of its pre-Covid turnover during the pandemic, but was hopeful things will improve from December.
“There are a lot of new bookings happening which is fantastic, but there’s also a lot of people saying ‘I don’t really know, I’m going to hold off’,” she said.
“I’ve seen the pilot strike, I’ve seen SARS, I’ve seen 9-11 where it took people about a year before they were flying internationally again.
“I’ve never seen anything like this, but I’m thinking that domestically it will be hectic, but internationally it will still take some time to come back.”
Fellow travel agent Stacey Daley, the director of Helloworld Travel in Hobart and New Town, took on another job as she waits for the travel industry to normalise.
“I’ve had a lot of inquiries and I still reply to messages and ring people back every day, but people are very nervous and there is still only very small demand for international,” she said.
“People are very nervous about being over there and being stuck again. I think people are going to trial domestic travel first.”
Mrs Daley said the various Covid rules between countries, such as pre-travel tests, made it difficult to plan.
But she said those who did feel confident to travel abroad could do so affordably.
Last month, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents said agents had a key role to play in helping travellers plan their holidays.
“Travel expertise to navigate the complexities of Covid travel is needed now more than ever and as events and tourism begin to ramp up again, travel agents will be essential,” AFTA chief executive Dean Long said.
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Originally published as Hobart travel agents say travellers remain nervous about heading overseas
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