04/21/2020
My travel agent friend shared this today. I cannot take the credit for writing this but it is a great message.
Travel and Tourism account for 330 million jobs- that’s 1 out of every 10 jobs around the world is affected by tourism.
The travel industry has been dealing with the coronavirus since January... an additional 2 full months before it really impacted anyone’s lives here. And I️ know it will be the last industry to start up again since there is now so much fear installed in people’s minds of being on a plane, a cruise ship, a hotel, or even any crowded space.
We’ve stopped travel for production on movies currently being filmed around the world. Stopped travel for global concerts for our clients. Corporate travel for multi million dollar accounts- all cancelled. Sports entertainment travel, done. That’s all on top of the usual consumer leisure holiday vacation.
Travel agents only get paid when their clients travel. Most are not eligible for any sort of government loan, even with the small business funding that ran out. My agents have been refunding their hard earned money back to their clients by the thousands. Most haven’t had new trips booked now for months.
**I️ do beg you, when you do decide to travel again- PLEASE use a travel agent. I️ don’t care who, or what company- we’re all in the same team. But please use a live person. Do not click a “book” button on a website, ever again.**
To my industry colleagues- you are warriors. Until we are traveling again ❤️🏖✈️🛳🗺
