Thanks to the vaccination against Covid-19, the situation in the tourism industry this autumn looks more promising than it was a year ago, the surveyed representatives of tour operators admitted to LETA.
Audrone Keinite, the head of Novatours, admitted that during the pandemic the tourism industry has acquired a number of new requirements and regulations, but not to limit it, but to make it safer.
“As the rules change, so do habits. At the moment, in order to travel, it is self-evident that an additional identity document and a travel ticket must be a vaccination or disease certificate or a negative Covid-19 test,” Keinite said.
She pointed out that it is easier, of course, for those travelers who have been vaccinated – no tests are required, no additional costs are incurred. “However, everyone must follow the restrictions set at travel destinations, as well as the rules that apply to return to Latvia,” said the head of “Novatours”, emphasizing that travelers understand this and are able to adapt.
Keinīte also said that “Novatours” travels only where it is safe and currently the list of trips offered by the tour operator includes only those destinations where you do not have to observe self-isolation.
“Since March, when we resumed travel, we have seen that people are longing for travel and are happy to go abroad to enjoy their holidays. The demand is growing and is already similar before the time of the virus chaos,” said Keinite.
According to her, “Novatours” summer season travel destinations – Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece, as well as Montenegro – received a great response from travelers. “We are already seeing an increase in travel demand for autumn travel – Portugal, Spain, Italy, and winter travel,” said Keinite.
She also admitted that Novatours hopes to accelerate the vaccination process in Latvia, Europe and the world, as this would not only significantly help the tourism industry, but would also allow the public to freely forge future plans.
“We believe that the increase in vaccination coverage will help the European tourism industry,” Keinite added.
Meanwhile, Kaspars Gēgeris, the manager of “Ceļojumu bode”, emphasized that the tour operator is keeping up to date with the latest information about what is happening in the countries to which “Ceļojumu bode” offers tourist trips. “Terms and conditions can change at any time and then we also inform all our customers who are satisfied with the trip,” said Geger.
He also acknowledged that it is easier for Covid-19 vaccinees to travel, as there are some countries where patients have to be tested anyway, but those who have not.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the demand for travel is significantly higher than in 2020 and the supply itself is wider.
According to Geger, the most popular destinations are holiday resorts in Turkey, Greece and Egypt, and ski travel bookings and winter travel bookings have now begun.
“The situation in tourism this year is much more promising than last autumn, because those who have been vaccinated would have no reason to restrict travel to a new wave of Covid-19,” said Geger.
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