Int’l flight disruptions hit tourism; travel industry very hard

Monday, September 21, 2020

Although travel enthusiasts in the city might continue following travel bloggers and travel-based Instagrammer’s accounts and their travel stories, they don’t seem to be ready to embark on holidays that are more than a drive away fearing Covid-19.

While the domestic flight services are getting back on track, travel agents say the tourism andtravel industryis yet to see business picking up. They say the industry will wake up only when international flights resume services.

It isn’t any secret that the travelling couple Savi and Vid’ Bruised Passports has many followers in the district who delve into their vivid accounts of holiday to Italy and other trips within Europe and fancy national parks in the USA. But, hardly anyone from the district has booked a trip abroad for leisure or vacation.

Ganesh, of Express Holidays, says, “It is simply because there aren’t any international flights operating from the city or Chennai, other than the ones under the Vande Bharat mission and a few repatriation flights. The few international flight inquiries that we receive are from people who want to visit their sons and daughters living abroad.”

Travel agents say the fear of travelling abroad amid the pandemic has not yet left the people.

“Many middle-income people are still scared to travel abroad or travel unnecessarily. In fact, many travel offices were forced to shut down in the absence of international tour business,” says V C Krishnaraj, president, Travel Agents’ Association of Coimbatore.

Pointing out that only very few countries are keeping their embassies and visa offices open, he says this was also a deterrent. “In fact, it is only the “cream fliers” or “business class” flyers who are willing to start flying.”

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