New and varying Covid restrictions are making holidays increasingly complex for families with older children this winter with the trade spending substantially longer on bookings.
Tighter restrictions are being enforced across Europe and there is a lack of clarity over rules in parts of the US, which reopened to British tourists last week.
New clampdowns are of particular concern to families with teenage children when they arrive in resort. In most of Europe, teenagers are double-vaccinated as standard.
In the UK, however, those aged 12-17 have been offered one jab, although the government confirmed this week that 16 and 17-year-olds will now be offered a second.
Abta urged members to direct clients to Foreign Office travel advice and use its #ReadySteadyTravel hub to ensure clients are up to date. A spokeswoman noted Covid entry requirements and local rules “may change between booking and departure date” and told companies to advise customers to sign up to email alerts for their destinations.
Qatar this week placed the UK on its ‘red list’, although that does not affect transit passengers; and a lockdown for the unvaccinated in Austria has led to fears UK tourists under 18 will be barred from hotels, restaurants and ski lifts.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown, France banned over-65s going to museums and restaurants without proof of a Covid booster jab, and Canary island Fuerteventura increased its alert level.
Ski operator Inghams said it was switching clients impacted by the Austrian lockdown to later dates or different destinations while specialist agency and operator Ski Solution has also offered alternatives to a “small number” of clients.
Ski Solutions managing director Craig Burton called the changing landscape “a minefield” but said: “We always knew this winter wouldn’t be straightforward. We have got a challenge, especially in Austria, for 12 to 15 year olds caught in this grey area. We are awaiting further guidance from the Austrian authorities.”
Similarly, USAirtours chief executive Guy Novik said the lack of clarity on whether UK teenagers would be allowed into restaurants and theatres in New York State was a concern.
He said: “We are seeing increased numbers of enquiries from agents reflecting increasing questions from clients asking for this type of information.”
The operator is developing a microsite on in-destination regulations, but Novik added: “We will do our best to stay on top of it but it’s not practical for agents or operators to be constantly looking at forward bookings and rechecking information.”
Tui-owned Crystal Ski Holidays has also created a travel and local covid requirements hub which managing director Chris Logan says will be “constantly updated”. He added: “Travelling is a bit different now and there are some things our customers need to think about that they wouldn’t usually have to. We want to make it as easy as possible.”
Agents said the confusion was making the booking process lengthier and more complicated but also encouraging more clients to seek their advice.
Paul Hardwick, head of commercial, Fred Olsen Travel, estimated bookings were taking double the amount of time than pre-pandemic, but added: “We’ve seen numerous new customers come through over the past few weeks who used to book direct or online and now prefer to book with an agent.”
Miles Morgan Travel chairman Miles Morgan agreed: “The more complex travel is the more people appreciate the agent.”
But Morgan stressed there had been no “marked decline” in bookings, adding: “In general people are getting more confident about travel.”
Advantage Travel Partnership leisure director Kelly Cookes added: “It doesn’t seem to be impacting sales greatly yet, but it does put an enormous amount of pressure on the agent.”
Spear Travels chairman Peter Cookson added: “As one of my managers said at our last weekly Zoom call, ‘I don’t relax until clients text me to say they are sitting on the aircraft’.”
Kirker Holidays director Ted Wake said agents should lean on trusted operator partners for help, adding: “It’s our responsibility to work closely with agents to ensure clients have the reassurance they need.”
But Aito head of commercial Bharat Gadhoke stressed the trade should not take on all the responsibility for keeping clients informed of changes.
He added: “Of course agents and operators want to do what they can for every customer but clients need to be aware they too have a responsibility.”