Bleak outlook for summer tourism

PHOTO

Travel agents and tour operators are forecasting a grim tourism season this summer even though some countries around the world are starting to relax Covid-19 precautionary measures by welcoming holidaymakers.

As Turkey, a popular destination for Bahrainis, for example, reopens restaurants, beaches and museums with limited domestic flights resuming, it’s unclear how many families will look to travel.

Many of Bahrain’s main tour operators have told the GDN that it feels like ‘this summer is wasted and over’. “We’ve been getting calls lately from people who just want to know what the situation is like when it comes to traveling and tourism and not because they have any serious plans to travel,” said Bahrain Travels chief executive Mahmood Al Kadhem.

“There are some tour operators that want to resume chartered flights but I believe this is a risk as the mechanism hasn’t been made clear yet by the ministries concerned and aviation authorities.

“There has been news that Turkey might open flights soon but we need to be clear on what the measures and protocols are going to be like because evacuating people from a country is a completely different procedure than operating flights for tourism.”

He stated that the situation remains unclear as Covid-19 continues to spread and claim lives. He believes that even if flights resume to holiday hotspots tourists are unlikely to resume their regular activities as uncertainty surrounding the pandemic continues.

“As a tour operator I see that the summer season is over and what we need to focus on is the coming seasons,” he added.

“Even if travel resumes and I go to Turkey, for example, I won’t do my regular activities of visiting markets, tourist attractions or malls, so why should I travel?”

Mr Al Kadhem highlighted that the realistic approach to the uncertain situation would be to prepare for future seasons following the summer season – which he said was ‘over’ for most tour operators.

His sentiments were shared by Dairy Travels partner and managing director Hussain Al Dairy, who said that a very limited number of enquiries about travel had been received and stressed that the situation remains ‘mysterious’.

Future

“Where we stand now is very mysterious and it may clear up in a few weeks,” he said.

“We need to be clear on how the government will regulate the process as there are many matters to take into consideration, such as flights, airport measures, quarantine and the continuation of the pandemic around the world.

“We are praying that the situation returns to normal as soon as possible but this season is over from my point of view.”

The future for the sector, however, looks brighter. A survey conducted online by Dubai-based travel, tourism, hospitality, lifestyle and communications agency – AllDetails – recently revealed that 86 per cent of GCC residents intended to travel internationally post Covid-19.

According to the survey, which was conducted for Saudi Arabian and UAE residents and citizens, participants revealed that they would travel within a month of travel restrictions being lifted.

reem@gdn.com.bh

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.