Travel agent Gil McLachlan reveals coronavirus holiday bargains for savvy travellers
A travel agent says now is the perfect time to get away for savvy overseas travellers who want a bargain, as an infectious disease expert reveals where he would go if he was going on holiday.
Manly
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The coronavirus outbreak has seen thousands of Australians cancel their travel plans or delay them but one travel expert says if you are savvy, now is the perfect time to get away.
Gil McLachlan, who has run a travel agency for 40 years, said hysteria over COVID-19 has led to people cancelling their holidays or not booking at all.
He said it was a sensible precaution if the traveller is elderly with a known underlying health issue, which is the cohort most at risk of dying if they catch the coronavirus.
However, he believes in the majority of cases cancellations were totally unnecessary.
Mr McLachlan, who said he had an obligation to provide unbiased information, said the travel industry was in a worse position than after the September 11 terrorism event or the Bali bombing.
“We are finding this situation as similar to when we had SARS,” he said.
“The hysteria is more dangerous than the virus.”
Mr McLachlan said the coronavirus issue had forced down prices and there were some great bargains for travellers right now including incredible pricing on airfares and cruise ships, with cruising around Australia still a great choice in his opinion.
He said a one week cruise with a luxury ship had recently been available for $599 a week.
He also said those happy to travel overseas would benefit by being able to enjoy the sights without the crowds.
He said he would feel comfortable sending people to France, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Canada, the US and South America, but he recommended people check the latest advice from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the World Health Organisation before booking.
He also said Australia was obviously a safe choice and he was looking to escape to the Hunter Valley himself at Easter.
Places he said he would avoid was Indonesia because of its medical provision or Mongolia.
There are several other countries that DFAT is not recommending Australians travel to at the moment including China, Iraq and Italy.
However, Professor Robert Booy an infectious disease specialist from the University of Sydney advised travellers that if they were booking their trip in the next couple of days it might be okay, but the coronavirus situation could change dramatically in just one or two weeks.
“There are safe places right now but in a week or two they could become unsafe,” he said.
“This is all crystal ball gazing, we can’t be sure.”
He said passengers on-board the Princess Cruises ship docked in the US probably never thought they would be in the situation they are now in when they started their holiday. So far more than 20 have been diagnosed with the virus.
But Professor Booy also said the coronavirus epidemic could be over within three to four months when it might be better to book overseas travel.
If people wanted to travel now, he said Australia was a good choice.
Mr McLachlan said he hoped the worst of the coronavirus crisis would be over by August but if it ran into the New Year it could devastate the tourist industry as well as a lot of travel agencies.
Mr McLachlan, who owns McLachlan Travel Group and employs around 20 people in his Manly-based office, said his business would survive as it was long established but it was a tough time for everyone in the industry and said he hoped the Government would step in to support it.