Travel advisers guardedly optimistic about industry’s comeback in 2021
With no concrete end in sight to the pandemic, travel advisers are nonetheless optimistic, albeit guardedly, about the industry’s comeback this year.
That optimism, however, comes with caveats — most notably the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements that all air travelers provide proof of negative
COVID-19 tests to enter the U.S.
“I believe with better cooperation from the
CDC that by mid-April we should be able to see things return to mostly normal,” said Lydia Blanton of Wishing on Travel. “Many people will have taken the COVID-19 vaccination by then, and that, coupled with the natural herd-immunity, which is on the rise, should allow restrictions to ease up, as cases decline.”
Blanton was not as optimistic about 2021 cruise business. “Unfortunately, I don’t see the cruise lines successfully sailing much, if any, in 2021,” she said. “They’re held to such higher standards — (and) scrutinized so much more than all other aspects of travel.”
Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations LLC is of the mind that there is considerable pent-up demand for travel. “So once the vaccine is more widely distributed and ineffective policies retracted/modified, we believe that the second half of 2021 — perhaps even the second quarter — will bring a significant recovery to travel,” she said.
For his part, Richard Turen, senior partner at The Churchill & Turen Industry Consulting Group, believes 2021 will be profitable if Europe opens up by May 15. He also said he is optimistic about African safari options and coldweather, adventure destinations such as Antarctica.