Will Travel Market Be Smaller After Lockdown?

This is so obvious that the post-lockdown travel market will not be the same like before. According to tour operators, it is likely going to be smaller and bounce back in closer-to-home destinations first. They find interests among the travellers in future travel, but bookings are unlikely to take off until there is news on the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Paul Cleary, the CEO of Caribtours said that it is inevitable that tour operators’ programmes would contract for 2021. However, he stayed positive about the Caribbean, for that is a relatively unscathed destination in the present crisis, and he anticipated a resurgence in the popularity of multigenerational holidays. Speaking in a Travel Weekly Webcast, he stated: “The Caribbean seems to be off the radar in terms of all of the negativity which has been all around the world.”

“We won’t be normal for a little while yet. There’s a lot of uncertainty. We will all be smaller next year and we’ll have to deal with that but people will rebook. And they have realised the importance of grandparents”, he added.

The sales and marketing director of Premier Holidays Debbie Goffin is hopeful about bookings. To him, bookings would “ramp up” if there are encouraging indications of a return to “something normal” in prime minister Boris Johnson’s speech on reducing lockdown restrictions on Sunday, May 10.

She predicted that the Channel Islands would be one of the first destinations to bounce back after the UK government withdraw lockdown restrictions and said, the operator is looking to increase its range of destinations closer to home.

The operator was at that point getting questions about Jersey and Guernsey from agents who have not booked the destinations previously, while other UK destinations, including the Isle of Wight, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Man could also be popular immediately after lockdown, said Goffin.

She said: “We are having conversations with destinations. Some are thinking [they will reopen in] autumn, some later in the summer. We’re just getting ready for multiple scenarios of when things could open and being very flexible and prepared to work very quickly.”

“We have a UK and Channel Islands programme and we feel that is probably one of the first things to open up. These destinations will bounce back slightly earlier. We have had a lot of agents ask us about that who haven’t really seriously considered it. We’re looking at product closer to home as well so there will be opportunities there.”

USAirtours said it would take some time for the market to come back to “relative normality” but that the operator was considering expanding its portfolio of destinations for the future, and potentially framing a sub-brand as part of this.

Chief Executive Guy Novik said: “I think even when people do start to book again, we are going to be in a recessionary time. Everyone must think creatively.

“We are also talking to DMCs around the world about other destinations that we might sell. Because we don’t necessarily want all of our eggs in one basket. And we might have to find a sub-brand.”