SINGAPORE – In anticipation of travel resuming post-COVID-19, travel agents are predicting pivots in demand and new trends and tailoring their offerings in response.
With safety and hygiene as the foremost concern, agents are reviewing the suppliers they work with for a start to minimise risks to travellers.
“As agencies are looking to work with responsible operators and agents, this will mean an overall better experience for travellers where ever they go,” said UOB Travel Planner’s head of travel Steven Ler.
Noting the emergence of caravan travel in China, a given as it is contained and minimises traveller exposure to crowds, he added, “We’re expecting to cater to small group travel – mainly family and close friends – as people will not be prepared to travel with strangers. There’s also a greater focus on scenic places and wilderness as well as private means of travel such as yachts and self-drive holidays.”
For managing director of Bangkok-based Image D’Asie & Asia Holidays Destination Management Company Ltd. Mingkwan Metmowlee, she expects that millennials and silver travllers are two travel segments that will return first. She further predicted that the next three months will see the return of domestic travel, with overseas trips taking six months to a year to return.
Singapore-based Chan Brothers Travel is anticipating a pent-up demand for travel, and is focusing on enhancing its arsenal of products and services.
“This includes expanding our breadth of offerings through the continued development of innovative and thematic series and strengthening our depth of offerings by ramping up popular flagship products,” the agency said.
Chan Brothers Travel is also working closely with partners and suppliers in ensuring and enhancing safety and health measures across all touchpoints of the holiday experience.
Buying habits will also change as travellers need to be assured of greater flexibility in travel bookings.
Citystate Travel’s executive director Albert Ho noted that airlines and cruise lines have been offering agencies flexible “travel with confidence” cancellation policies to kickstart bookings, with the option to cancel without questions asked and receive full refunds or to retain as future travel credits with a top-up.
“You need such flexibility and incentive to entice passengers to buy,” he said.
In terms of cruising, he lauded efforts by cruise lines to put together strong protocols that ensure the safety of passengers as well as the idea of cruising on the high seas without port calls. “It is a good initiative for a start as this will keep fares more affordable and help regain customers’ confidence in cruising.”