The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the fabric of the travel industry irrevocably. Out of several developments good and bad, the rising popularity of travel agents is the most noteworthy. With travel planning and booking apps dominating the scene, the humble travel agent has remained largely invisible for the better half of a decade. But, the sheer unpredictability of the challenge we have all been faced with, has left even the most seasoned traveler reaching out for expert help.
It’s true. Imagine this. You’re desperately craving a getaway to a safe location with your loved ones or by yourself, you set out to do some research. You’re immediately bombarded with a barrage of information, most of which you can hardly verify. Soon, you’re left with more dread and anxiety than you started out with.
Even those who are lured by self-planing due to cost-cutting are now being swayed by the arbitrariness and ambiguity of it all.
“This does not come as much of a surprise to us, really. These are uncertain times and it is definitely comforting to entrust your travels to a reliable agent who can manage it all. At DMC, we certainly relate to this sentiment and do our best to ensure that those who choose to vacation with us have everything taken care of,” says Shamnad, Director at DMC Leisure.
Is that all there is to people flocking in hoards to agents? Apparently not! There are a whole host of other factors at play.
Rising expectations of hygiene and sanitation
Online reviews and assurances from faraway locations rarely offer any comfort to tourists these days. Even novice travellers are well aware of the fact that travel guarantees can be exaggerated visually and with the help of well-woven words. While this may have been shrugged off in the past as a part of the experience, anything less than a perfectly clean and hygienic stay is unacceptable at a time like this. Hence, travellers look to professional travel planners from their own countries to rely on and hold accountable to these emerging standards.
Ease of acquiring information
In fact, a large part of the rise of travel planners can be attributed to the element of reliability. While online blogs and guides appear super helpful at first glance, they are rarely, if ever verified or updated with the latest trends. This leads to a lot of time, energy and even money being wasted by the excited traveler who embarks on a planning journey fully reliant on the internet and does not find out about these restrictions until the very last minute. These risks are completely eliminated when planning occurs through reputed and trustworthy travel planners. They are in the know of every update as it occurs and when tourists hire them, it is usually this unparalleled current knowledge that they are paying for.
Aversion to taking on the stress of planning
Vacations and holidays are fragile affairs, they are retreats meant to get away from the rest of the world and forget our troubles. Even one bitter experience can throw a damper on it all. Quite ironically, the process of planning such relaxing holidays can be incredibly stressful. With the pandemic looming large over our heads, nobody wants this added responsibility of getting everything right. “There are so many things to consider while planning a getaway right from the dates, the weather, accommodation, itinerary, local transport, leisure activities, budgets, visas, and the list goes on. With a travel planner, everything is taken care of. All you have to do is make your preferences known and they’ll take care of the rest. This way, the time leading up to your vacation is also as stress-free as your vacation itself,” explains Shamnad.
Revenge travel sentiments abound
Another incredibly interesting phenomenon that the travel industry has been witnessing is people wanting to take long and ultra-luxurious holidays to make up for all the fun and life that they’ve missed out on in the last couple of years. Cost concerns are going out the window for many since priorities have been drastically altered, pushing more and more people to embrace the ‘now’ of things.
Growing interest in off-beat, sustainable options
What’s more, the pandemic has quite literally forced everyone around the world, especially tourists, to rethink their living and experiences on more eco-friendly and sustainable notes. While the age-old travel industry slowly catches up to this newfound collective conscience, travel agents have been coming to the rescue and pointing tourists in the direction of such options that already exist. Want to go somewhere offbeat and untouched and enjoy an experience that does not disturb the natural locale? Good and reliable travel planners will most assuredly know just the right places for it.
All in all, we believe it is safe to say that travel may have taken a hit the last couple of years but it sure is gearing up for a wholesome revival led by travel advisors.
Are you flummoxed by the stress of having to plan a trip just to get away from all that is happening right now? Reach out to DMC’s travel advisors and we’ll help you plan a safe and serene holiday when the time is right again.
If you found that helpful, don’t forget to follow our social media handles @dmc_leisure (Instagram) & DMC Leisure (Facebook) and of course, hit subscribe on our blog for the latest luxury travel updates.
