Travel Advisors Scramble to Find Alternatives for Caribbean-Bound Clients
Skift Take
In the age of mass media, word of incidents in travel destinations quickly spread across the globe, and travel advisors need to be prepared to handle client requests for changes in their wake. It's important for advisors to start looking for backup plans when news begins to break.
Summer 2019 has been one of turmoil for travel advisors focusing on the Caribbean, stemming from last-minute cancellations to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico as well as the abrupt change in U.S. travel policy to Cuba.
Since early June travel advisors have been dealing with fallout from the highly publicized tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic and a policy change from the Trump administration, which immediately stopped cruise ships from sailing to Cuba. In July travel to Puerto Rico took a hit from massive protests calling for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
Flights booked in June to the Dominican Republic from the U.S. for July and August fell 59 percent compared to the same period last year, according to ForwardKeys, a travel research company that analyzes millions of flight bookings a day.
Putting Out Fires
“It’s very frustrating. It often feels like you are constantly putting out fires,” said Rob Hale, president of Travel N Relax and the Denver Chap
