SARASOTA – Choosing to travel amid a pandemic has proven to be a challenge, especially if you’re planning to go overseas.
And the hospitality industry has been one of the most severely impacted financially by COVID-19. One one local travel agency hopes to stay in business as new travel restrictions are put into place.
On Tuesday the new travel ban signed by President Biden went into effect, barring non-us citizens who have recently spent time in South Africa, Brazil, the UK, Ireland, and 26 European countries from entering the U.S.
“With the pandemic worsening and more contagious variant spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
And a new study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) reveals Travel is not expected to return to 2019 levels until 2024 due to a resurgence of COVID-19 and new strains of the coronavirus — now being found in more than a dozen states in the U.S.
One local tourism agency says the new travel restrictions may force some of their clients to postpone, reschedule, or cancel existing reservations.
“The proposed restrictions to come into place regarding entry or reentry into the United States are not – would not be out of line with many of the other restrictions in other countries around the world,” said Ryan Hilton.
Hilton, the Co-Proprietor of Admiral Travel International Inc., says they’re following all of the guideline set in place by the CDC and the current administration in office.
“No matter what destination our guests are returning to the United States, from we will be able to work with the teams from the ground in that destination to ensure the traveler has the test and has the results in hand allowing them to board their flights,” he said.
Hilton says though the demand and desire to travel is up, many of their clients are simply planning ahead.
“A lot of people planning ahead into 2022, 2023 working now to secure their space in the destination they want,” Hilton said.
He adds that the vaccine roll out offers travelers and agencies hope for a better tomorrow.
As 56% of Americans stating they are likely to travel for leisure or vacation in 2021 according to the AHLA.
“Is proven to be a big relief for many and certainly providing some certainty to the future,” said Hilton.
