Tourexpi
Mr. Bösl, you are the general manager of the Quality Travel Alliance (QTA), with about 9,000 affiliated travel agencies creating an annual turnover of about 5 billion Euro. According to your position you should be well informed about the reservations and sales in travel agencies at the moment. Could you please give us information about the current situation?
Bösl: The current situation is very tense. At the beginning of this year many Far East travelers changed their bookings, but for two weeks now all destinations all over the world are facing the same situation. There is no destination left which is not under the influence of the Covid-19 crisis. But also the airlines, hotels and even tour operators are under pressure.
Well, what do you expect to happen in the near future? There are many countries with only a few cases of people infected by the virus, but nonetheless booking numbers are falling everywhere and customers are worried. How do you explain the difference between the number of infections and the worries created by them?
Bösl: You are right, also countries with just a few cases of infections by the Covid-19 virus are witnessing falling booking numbers. Our customers don´t differentiate between countries with many infections and such with less. Our customers are afraid to travel in a general way. The reason for this is not a fear to get the disease, but to be confined to a hotel or a cruise ship due to a quarantine. This is something the authorities in all destination should consider. In the event of the infection of a single guest they should refrain from confining all guests to this hotel. What our customers fear most is to be confined to a hotel or a ship as a totally healthy person for two weeks.
What should holiday destinations do?
Bösl: What is of uttermost importance right now is to have reliable information instead of sensational news and panic. What we would like to ask of hotels and the authorities in the destinations right now is to keep us informed as good as possible. We want to post all the information given to us on a special service section on our website, were we inform travel agencies about the situation in each destination. This information is controlled by thousands of travel agency sales agents each day which aim to provide their customers with reliable information instead of sensational and partly misleading news. We want to act as a bridge covering the gap between the destinations and their products and the customers. Many agents have been able to answer the questions of their customers using this information. Especially Tenerife has used this opportunity to alleviate the worries of potential guests. We urge all destinations and hotels to use this opportunity to reach out to their potential guests.
What will happen after the end of the current Covid-19 crisis? Do you expect 2020 to become a strong “last minute year”?
Bösl: I hope that 2020 will become a year with strong last-minute sales. But this expectation should not lead us to create just another self-made crisis right after the current crisis by starting to sell our products at radically reduced prices. As far as we are concerned, we would prefer to offer our customers cost free added value opportunities like for instance room upgrades and reductions for Spa departments, restaurants, shows and trips. In order to be able to offer these we are preparing a voucher booklet, and we hope that many hotels will join in this campaign. In short: Instead of selling our products at reduced prices and thus creating profit loss for tour operators, travel agencies and hotels alike, we would prefer to use different solutions which help us to support the image of tours and holidays as a product of value for which customers are willing to pay appropriate prices.
Image Credit: Thomas Bösl © Tourexpi
The most interesting news
Emirates one of the first to trial IATA Travel Pass against COVID-19
Emirates has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any gov
TUI AG: CEO Fritz Joussen participates in capital increase
Fritz Joussen, CEO of TUI AG, is participating in the capital increase resolved at the Group's Extraordinary General Meeting on 5 January 2021.
Germany: Merkel's favorite elected CDU leader
Conservative-liberal politician Armin Laschet narrowly beats rival Friedrich Merz.
EU to debate idea of travel vaccination certificate
COVID-19 vaccination certificate is medical necessity, but its privileges need to be discussed: EU Commission president.
Lufthansa will soon depart on its longest passenger flight with polar explorers on board
On behalf of the Alfred-Wegener-Institute, the flight will operate with an Airbus A350-900 from Hamburg to the Falkland Islands.
First Qatari plane in Egypt since reconciliation deal
The first Qatar Airways flight took off from Doha to Cairo on Monday following a reconciliation deal to settle a more than three-year dispute between Qatar and Egypt.
Madrid set to host key week for global tourism
The global tourism sector is starting the new year prepared to #RestartTourism when conditions allow, with the World Tourism Organization set to again bring together leaders from across the public and private sectors.
TUI AG announces early redemption of €300 million Senior Bond 2016/2021
TUI AG has announced that it will redeem the outstanding Senior Bond (Oct 2016 - Oct 2021) of 300 million euros early in accordance with the terms and conditions of the bond. The redemption on 23 February 2021 will be made at the nominal amount plus
Turkey: Tourists love night skiing in Palandoken
Ski resort offers safe holiday to ski lovers amid coronavirus pandemic with natural beauties, kilometers of tracks.
Turkey: Winter fun captivates tourists in Cappadocia
In unique snow-covered landscape, tourists have myriad of activities to choose from to make best of winter holiday.
Historical Turkish town draws tourists despite pandemic
Safranbolu attracted local, foreign tourists 9 times its population in 2020.
Secretary-General Pololikashvili nominated to lead UNWTO for four more years
The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has expressed its continued support for Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialized agency for
Reconnect with the world in 2021 with Emirates’ special fares
Emirates is launching its much-awaited global sale to inspire and encourage travelers to reconnect with family and friends or explore new destinations in the New Year. With attractive offers to select destinations worldwide, Emirates customers can ma
East African bodies join hands to promote tourism
Travel agencies agree to revive industry hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden ends travel ban on Muslim countries
US 'was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance,' says president.
Turkey’s ‘ice museum’ lets visitors take polar strolls
Exhibition hosts 22 works built from ice, including a map of Turkey and an igloo house.
Denmark bans flights from UAE for 5 days
Decision taken due to doubts over reliability of COVID-19 tests carried out in Dubai, says Transport Ministry.
Foreigners in Turkey satisfied with virus measures
Foreigners permanently residing in Turkey’s southwestern touristic district say they do not feel threatened by pandemic.
Global Tourism Crisis Committee meets to explore safe travel
The Global Tourism Crisis Committee has met for the first time in 2021.
EU postpones issuing ‘vaccination passports’
Bloc decides to strongly deter all non-essential travel within EU and with third countries.
