How is the travel sector coping with Brisbane lockdown wave? 

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Summary

• Brisbane is under three-days lockdown, which at the current stage is proposed to end on 1 April 2021. 
• Many states have imposed strict border restrictions in response to the new COVID-19 cases associated with infectious UK strain.
• Thousands of customers have cancelled their travel bookings amid the growing dilemma regarding permission to travel. 
• Many travel providers offer flexible booking policies in the form of refunds, refund credits or alternate bookings. 

The sense of deja-vu among travel providers is again on the rise as Brisbane entered three days lockdown on 29 March 2021. The cases associated with the Brisbane cluster are reported to have highly infectious UK strain, which has been on the international radar for quite a while.

 Responding to the new COVID-19 alert, Western Australia shut its border for Queensland while Victoria and South Australia have designated the entire Greater Brisbane area as a high-risk zone. Although New South Wales has not imposed any restrictions, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to reconsider their Easter travel plans. 

With vaccine being rolled out and Easter holidays in the offing, travel players were expecting some increase in cash inflows through pent-up tourism activities. However, the recent breakout has emerged as a massive barrier towards travel booking as uncertainty looms large over further domestic travel restrictions. 

The journey to recoup losses could be extended, riddled with challenges if the ongoing situation takes a gruesome form. Simultaneously, the travel sector is battening down the hatches to ride out the storm. 

ALSO READ: Australia to promote tourism; to create travel bubble with Singapore

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Flexible bookings remain integral to survival

 Several recent episodes of cancelled trips due to lockdown restrictions became one of the significant deterrent forces affecting the travel sector's recovery. In a bid to remove the pain point of travel bookings during the pandemic scenario, travel providers are offering flexible booking policies. 

The latest Brisbane lockdown saw thousands of tourists cancelling their bookings in Queensland, while a majority have already shunned their travel plans in Greater Brisbane. The tour operators who have been bearing the brunt of the border shuts are urging travellers to not cancel bookings for other states. 

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 However, the uncertainty regarding the potential restrictions has risen steeply, making many wonder if they should be taking a trip to other parts of the country. Many accommodations and airline providers, understanding the current dilemma, allow the travellers to either cancel their book or make travel plan changes. Airlines like Qantas Group, Virgin Australia and Jetstar are offerings alternative credits options which travellers can use later. 

 Travel sector pins hope on ongoing vaccination program

The vaccination program has emerged as the silver lining for the travel players, anticipating recovery with the globalised effort to overcome the year-long pandemic challenge. The vaccination ground can provide a firm footing to establish standard criteria for allowing the entry of tourists. The selective border reopening to vaccinated travellers will not only gear up travel developments but also ensure that nations welcoming the tourists are safeguarded against the coronavirus outbreak. 

ALSO READ: A look at the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccines across the globe

Source: Copyright © 2021 Kalkine Media Pty Ltd

The International Air Travel Authority has developed Vaccination Travel Passports to kickstart global air travel, with IATA travel pass successfully implemented in the trial with Singapore Airlines passengers.

While several travel complexities still dominate the current pandemic era, green shoots like the vaccination drive, technological advancements and support packages can bring back the lost lustre to Australia’s tourism space.