The reported number of overall COVID-19 cases may be down worldwide since last winter’s surge, but pandemic-related challenges haven’t waned for travel advisors. In particular, the inbound COVID-19 testing mandate, only just dropped by the U.S., was leading to hours of behind-the-scenes work for some agents. Couple that with rapidly changing regulations — and the fact that regulations vary from country to country, and that dissemination of information can be inconsistent — and it’s easy to see why travel planning remains a challenge.
Here’s what some industry players are facing, and how they’re advising clients right now, in hopes of easier travel.
Clients Stuck Abroad
Donna Alkarmi, president of LoneStar Travel in McKinney, Texas, spent spring and early summer balancing two variables: First, her business has never been better, and second, her company has never seen so many COVID-19 cases among its clientele.
In the last month, Alkarmi had clients stuck in Paris and Mexico due to positive pre-departure COVID-19 tests; because of the U.S. testing mandate then in place, her clients’ 10-day vacations turned into 20-day trips with a quarantine period. Meanwhile, Alkarmi was rebooking flights and communicating with travel insurance companies to try to keep costs down for those travelers.
Alkarmi’s frustration was compounded by changing regulations around testing, as well. She said what was a once a five-day quarantine, for example, became a 10-day quarantine seemingly overnight; one client in Mexico arrived at the airport after a five-day quarantine, a doctor’s letter of recovery in hand, only to be told to quarantine an additional five days.
When she heard the news of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifting testing altogether, Alkarmi said she was “truly relieved,” while also acutely aware that the CDC will reassess the situation in 90 days, and that the testing mandate could rear its head again.
Anna Harrison, travel advisor and owner of Travel Observations out of Pittsburgh, Penn., echoed that sense of relief. Adding “crisis manager” to her list of professional duties — and having to play the role so often — came with significant stress.
“Knowing that every single traveler I sent overseas was risking being unable to return home, and that they would be looking to me to help them at that instant, contributed to a low-level state of anxiety for two years,” she said. “I didn't even realize that until I felt it lifting off my shoulders when I heard the news.”
Knowing that every single traveler I sent overseas was risking being unable to return home, and that they would be looking to me to help them at that instant, contributed to a low-level state of anxiety for two years.
COVID-19 Cancellations
What about clients who test positive before leaving home for a planned trip?
Molly Gay, a Denver-based advisor with Be The Travel, says that this is proving challenging, too. Clients with COVID-19 exposure or positive test results may wish to postpone a trip rather than cancel it fully, but that’s not always easy to do.
“In a normal world, rescheduling a trip isn’t that big of a deal,” she said. “But right now, especially in Europe, demand is high, and our supplier partners are incredibly busy. Pushing a trip back two weeks or a month? It’s very hard to find availability.”
On Travel Insurance
To that end, there’s likely never been a better time to buy travel insurance.
Courtney Jensen, travel designer and founder of Fisher and Stout in Arkansas, says that travel insurance is critical with so many factors in play right now. She gives clients quotes for travel insurance, usually from Allianz and Travelex.
Molly Gay with Be The Travel does the same.
“We don’t require clients to buy insurance, but we strongly encourage it,” Gay said. “And if they decline travel insurance coverage, we make them sign a form acknowledging that they are assuming full responsibility.”
Gay admitted to not being a travel insurance buyer herself pre-pandemic. But after helping her clients struggle with COVID-19-impacted travel, she’s a convert. Just this month, an insured client vacationing in Belize (which has required all international visitors to be insured since February) tested positive before departing for the U.S., and travel insurance greatly helped mitigate the costs incurred by the mandated quarantine.
And though the pre-departure testing mandate has been lifted by the U.S., COVID-19 still stands to impact advisor business. Alkarmi of LoneStar Travel remains on edge about the many international vacations and destination weddings on the horizon; at least travel insurance helps ease the angst around “what-if” scenarios, she says.
Gay of Be The Travel remains a realist about the pandemic, too.
“People feel like COVID-19 is behind us,” Gay said. “But it may not be as ‘over’ as we think.”
People feel like COVID-19 is behind us, but it may not be as ‘over’ as we think.
A Call for Vigilance
Harrison of Travel Observations predicts a continued state of confusion around COVID-19-related rules. Both travelers and advisors will need to be vigilant about researching regulations in their prospective destinations to avoid problems.
“Travelers may not realize that certain destinations do still require entry testing or proof of vaccine, or that masks are still required in certain airports around the world,” Harrison said. “It's important that we continue to act as an advocate for travel in general, and that advisors do not let down their guard and keep their finger on the pulse of global events.”
