Travel is possible again, and the summer vacation is just around the corner.
But the delta variant of the corona virus turns some vacation plans upside down.
Würmtaler travel agencies advise not to rush anything.
Würmtal
- There was a time, around two weeks ago, when more and more trips were booked again, says Arthur Mattejat, managing director of the Gautinger travel company “Domizile Reisen”. But then the delta variant also spread in Portugal, and the Robert Koch Institute declared the country a virus variant area. Vacationers from virus variant areas have to be in quarantine for 14 days when they return to Germany. Whether vaccinated, recovered or not does not matter.
In addition to Portugal, Russia, India, Great Britain, Northern Ireland as well as Brazil, South Africa, Nepal and other countries are currently considered virus variant areas.
"Now the bookings are rapidly falling again," reports Mattejat.
Some customers who had booked a trip to Portugal would have already canceled it.
Mattejat also has the impression that many people no longer dare to book a summer vacation.
“The insecurity scares people.” Compared to pre-Corona years, there are only a fraction of bookings.
When it comes to summer holidays, customers are currently predominantly choosing countries that are easily accessible by car or a short flight, such as Austria, Italy, Greece or Spain.
Reluctant customers
“The demand is there, but the Delta variant slows down bookings,” says Holger Voigt, head of the SWS travel agency in Planegg. Many trips to Portugal have already been canceled with him. According to Voigt, customers are still reluctant to plan their vacation - and that's a good thing. “The travel regulations change almost every day, we simply cannot estimate anything.” Booking a trip for this summer is not rocket science, but there are many things to consider for vacationers and travel planners. Whether recovered or vaccinated - some countries and airlines also require a negative test result. Travelers should also find out where to register on arrival and departure. "It's best for people to book their vacation a week or two in advance."
Anja Fehler, Managing Director of Planegger's tour operator Mondius, also advises her customers to "be careful and not rush anything" when planning their vacation. She can feel an upturn in bookings and notice that the anticipation is great. But the pandemic is not over yet. It is important to estimate where customers can vacation with a clear conscience. The tour operator currently advises against long-distance travel.
At Eveline Glaser, owner of the travel company “Der Kreuzfahrer” in Neuried, bookings are going up again. Overall, however, the demand is manageable. "The next corona wave is sure to come, so it is difficult to plan," says Glaser. Especially since the regulations differ not only from country to country, but also from shipping company to shipping company. For example, there are shipping companies that only allow people who have been vaccinated twice on board, says Glaser. Cruises to the Greek islands, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea are particularly popular at the moment. Landing is sometimes only possible to a limited extent. According to Glaser, TUI also offers so-called “blue voyages” where guests stay on board for the entire holiday.Cruises to the Caribbean or Dubai are still impossible due to the entry ban in the USA.
Lara Listl
