The removing of the US from the EU’s listing of safe-travel nations has had a destructive impact on tour operator bookings, in accordance with the US Tour Operators Affiliation (USTOA).
In a survey conducted by USTOA following the announcement, two-thirds of USTOA Lively Members reported a lower in total demand for brand spanking new bookings. Roughly 9 out of ten (88%) of USTOA Lively Members who responded to the survey function excursions or packaged journey itineraries to Europe.
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The analysis additionally discovered that 74 p.c of USTOA Lively Members who operate in Europe reported friends with current 2021 European bookings postponed their journey and rebooked for a later departure date following the EU announcement. Moreover, 60 p.c mentioned that friends with current 2021 bookings to EU nations canceled their journey plans.
“What we’ve heard from our tour operator members is that the EU coverage change–and the ensuing information coverage–immediately raised confusion amongst vacationers, together with hesitation and doubts about their means to proceed with European trip plans this 12 months,” mentioned Terry Dale, USTOA president and CEO. “In reality, vaccinated Individuals, for probably the most half, can transfer ahead with their journey plans to Europe and lots of of our members have been working journey packages and excursions efficiently in Europe for months.”
Whereas tour operators reported cancellations and postponements, there are additionally loads of shoppers who nonetheless plan to journey.
“Nonetheless, it’s encouraging that regardless of the affect of the EU information greater than three-fourths (79 p.c) of our tour operator members reported having friends who’re continuing with their booked 2021 Europe journey,” Dale famous.
Different locations have been minimally affected by the EU announcement. In line with USTOA, 67 p.c of members mentioned the announcement had no impact on different locations. Nineteen p.c of Lively Members surveyed mentioned that they noticed an uptick in bookings for non-EU locations after the announcement.
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