The post-lockdown travel market is likely to be smaller and bounce back in closer-to-home destinations first, predict tour operators.
Operators said there was interest in future travel but that bookings were unlikely to take off until there was news on the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Caribtours chief executive Paul Cleary said it was inevitable that tour operators’ programmes would contract for 2021.
However, he remained positive about the Caribbean, as a relatively unscathed destination in the current crisis, and predicted a resurgence in the popularity of multigenerational holidays.
Speaking in a Travel Weekly Webcast, he said: “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.”
Premier Holidays sales and marketing director Debbie Goffin was hopeful bookings would “ramp up” if there are encouraging signs of a return to “something normal” in prime minister Boris Johnson’s speech on reducing lockdown restrictions on Sunday, May 10.
She predicted the Channel Islands would be one of the first destinations to bounce back after the UK government lifts lockdown restrictions and said the operator was looking to increase its range of destinations closer to home.
The operator was already receiving queries about Jersey and Guersney from agents who have not booked the destinations before, 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 time for the market to return to “relative normality” but that the operator was considering broadening its portfolio of destinations for the future, and potentially forming 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 times. Everyone has got to 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.”
