Travel experts believe omicron will bring rise in trip cancellations for 2022
WESH 2’S AMANDA DUKES REPORTS. REPORTER: JUST AS CENALTR FLORIDA IS STARTING TO WELCOME BACK INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS , OMICRON, THE NEWEST VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS, IS EXPECTED TO DEAL AT LEAST A TEMPORARY BLOW. MONDAY, A PANEL OF STATE ECONOMISTS AGREED TO SLIGHTLY LOWER PEEXCTATIONS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF 2022 FOR BOTH CANADIAN AND OVERSEAS VISITORS. THE GROUP EXPECTS THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT TO AFFECT PEOPLE’S DECISIONS TO TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY AS NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE ONCE AGAIN PUT INLA. P DUE TO THE RISE IN THE OMICRON VAANRIT, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPLEMENTED STRICTER TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INBOUND TRAVELERS, INCLUNGDI U.S. CITIZENS. YANNIS MOATI IS A TRAVEL EXPERT AND CEO OF HOTELSBYDAY. HE SAID THERE IS ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS. >> THE GOOD NEWS IS THE OMICNRO CAME LATE, TOO LATE TO CANCEL THE HOLIDAY VACATION SEASON , WHICH IS THE PEAK OF THE YEAR. AS FAR AS I’M READING, IT SEEMS HOTELS HAVE NOT WITNESSEAD SURGE OF CANCELLATIONS. REPORTER: BUT MOATI THINKS THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022 MAY BRGIN A RISE IN TRIP CANCELLATIONS AND DEPENDING ON HOW LONG Y OMICRON SURGE LASTS, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY COULD SUFFER ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT BLOW. >> IT COULD BE QUITE DRAMATIC BECAUSE HOW MUCH CAN THE GOVERNMENT COME AND SAVE US IS ANOTHER QUESTION. ALL OF THAT IS A
Travel experts believe omicron will bring rise in trip cancellations for 2022
Just as Central Florida is starting to welcome back international tourists, omicron, the newest variant of the coronavirus is expected to deal a temporary blow.Monday, a panel of state economists agreed to slightly lower expectations through the middle of 2022 for both Canadian and overseas visitors.The group expects the variant to impact people’s decisions to travel, especially as new travel restrictions are once again put in place.Due to the rise of omicron, the Biden administration has implemented stricter testing requirements for inbound travelers, including U.S. citizens. The new restrictions came just weeks after a pandemic travel ban on over 30 countries was lifted.Yannis Moati is a travel expert and CEO of HotelsByDay. He said there is one bit of good news for the economy.”The good news is the omicron came late, too late to cancel the holiday vacation season, which is the peak of the year. So, as far as I’m hearing, hotels have not witnessed a surge of cancellations,” Moati said.But Moati said he thinks the first quarter of 2022 may bring a rise in trip cancellations, and, depending on how long any omicron surge lasts, the tourism industry could suffer another blow.”It could be quite dramatic because how much can the government come and save us is also a question. So, all of that is actually quite worrisome for the industry,” Moati said.
Just as Central Florida is starting to welcome back international tourists, omicron, the newest variant of the coronavirus is expected to deal a temporary blow.
Monday, a panel of state economists agreed to slightly lower expectations through the middle of 2022 for both Canadian and overseas visitors.
The group expects the variant to impact people’s decisions to travel, especially as new travel restrictions are once again put in place.
Due to the rise of omicron, the Biden administration has implemented stricter testing requirements for inbound travelers, including U.S. citizens. The new restrictions came just weeks after a pandemic travel ban on over 30 countries was lifted.
Yannis Moati is a travel expert and CEO of HotelsByDay. He said there is one bit of good news for the economy.
“The good news is the omicron came late, too late to cancel the holiday vacation season, which is the peak of the year. So, as far as I’m hearing, hotels have not witnessed a surge of cancellations,” Moati said.
But Moati said he thinks the first quarter of 2022 may bring a rise in trip cancellations, and, depending on how long any omicron surge lasts, the tourism industry could suffer another blow.
“It could be quite dramatic because how much can the government come and save us is also a question. So, all of that is actually quite worrisome for the industry,” Moati said.