The rebirth of travel agencies due to the pandemic
Update
Saturday,
22
may
2021
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00:57
Now more than ever, tourists seek trust and advice. You can find it in agencies and tour operators both physical and virtual that offer a personalized and flexible attention that guarantees safety before, during and even after the getaway.
Interior of the Pangea store in the center of Madrid.
Goodbye to taking a plane ticket from one day to the next encouraged by the last minute offers and to hang his backpack on his shoulder heading for an impromptu adventure. The new tourist scenario imposed by Covid-19 has imposed not only the control of movements around the world, but the need to update information referring to each destination at all times. To do this, the traveler looks for a reliable interlocutor who gives him confidence and to whom he can turn 24 hours a day if doubts or problems arise.
That intermediary is none other than the travel agencies, reviled in other times and tables of salvation in these. «Before the pandemic there was a tendency to autonomy on the part of the traveler, but no longer. Now you need advice, know which countries are open, what is required to enter, who gets you out of there if something happens…”, explains Ana Alonso, general director of Nuba, agency specialized in designing exclusive trips and made to measure. «The real luxury is now in consulting more than in the destination or in that transformative experience that we all seek when traveling,” he adds.
That does not mean that he is optimistic with the tourist panorama that is coming. “Travel is a primary necessity and people need to get out, be in touch with nature, breathe fresh air…». For this reason, it points to African countries as Botswana or Tanzania as star destinations, not forgetting the Maldives, “which has gained points during the pandemic because of the conditions it imposed”, or Saudi Arabia for the autumn.
Not in vain, the agencies are betting on a summer beyond our borders, despite the fact that national tourism will be dominant during this year, as it was the past. It says the Tourism Barometer of the consultancy Braintrust, which figures in a 77% the weight of the Spanish traveler with respect to the total influx of tourists to our country. In 2020, it was 84%.
What is clear is the resurgence of intermediaries when traveling, whether to book a flight and hotel package to the Canary Islands like to jump into a safari in Kenya. “The traveler needs to have a person next to him that he can trust and that offers him security and guarantees both before, during and after his trip”, summarizes Daniel Puertas, general director of Pangea, the world’s largest travel store, specialized in tailor-made proposals and with four physical offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Bilbao that, together, total more than 5,500 m2.
Security guarantees
Doors is convinced that the customer perception about agencies has changed for the better. “There are many who have never traveled hand in hand with an agency that are now beginning to do so.” Even to move around the national territory. «The reservations for July and august they are increasing considerably. A significant part of the population will opt for Spain. In fact, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are two of the destinations that generate the most demand for us,” says Puertas.
On the other hand, more than 60 expert advisors Pangea have moved around the world during the last months to know first-hand the situation of each country with respect to the Covid-19. “The list of places open to international tourism is growing every day. For months you can travel to destinations such as Maldives, Egypt, Dubai, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Sweden… Many of our travelers have already encouraged to go and have been able to enjoy it with less tourism than ever”, confirms the head of Pangea.
Who also sees the light at the end of the tunnel it is Catai, leading tour operator in great routes, which has even come to create an Academy of Dreamers Travelers whose objective is to expand the training of agents as for destinations. “We want to provide them with support and confidence in a prompt recovery, as well as stimulate reserves to all people who are willing to travel“, comments Raúl Serrano, general director of Catai. The company has also opted to make available to its customers a flexible reservation, which allows cancel free of charge up to 25 days before departure, a key option in this era of uncertainty.
FREE CANCELLATIONS
All in order to encourage travel safely, whether through the neighborhood agency of a lifetime, the tour operator of great adventures a la carte or digital portals as Rumbo. The Market Director for Spain and Italy of the latter, Davide Mara, points out that, as an online agency, they have “the luck of power offer holidays immediately. If advertised tourist corridors and there are flights and hotels available for those dates, we can make the reservation at that same time.”
On the other hand, it considers it vital to listen customer needs: “We have been told that the highest priority when booking is flexibility and peace of mind to organize the trip. Therefore, the best offers are being chosen among those that allow cancellations and free date changes». In addition, Mara is optimistic about the summer season. “We have seen a growing trend since the beginning of April and, in recent weeks, the speed has increased even more. People seek packages for July and august, while in the case of hotels there is interest for this same month of May to take advantage of the first opportunity to travel within the country”.
The good prospects also endorse the agreement between the portals Booking and Viator, focused on tourist experiences. “Now that people are thinking about traveling again, we are even more proud to offer more tours, attractions & activities. We will continue to innovate to make it easier for customers to experience to the fullest,” concludes Bryan Batista, CEO of Booking’s Travel division.
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