COVID-19 outbreak impacts summer vacation plans

People with travel plans during the 2020 summer break worry that they may need to postpone due to COVID-19.

Summer is around the corner, and some people have worked hard during the year while  planning to spend their vacation in another country. However, their plans may now be up in the air.

Aya Charif, 22, who has studied child psychology at the University of Windsor, said she worked hard in the summer of 2019 to enjoy this coming summer in Lebanon, but COVID-19 affected her plan.

“I was very excited and booked a ticket in January…due to the circumstances caused by COVID-19, I do not think I can go through with my plan and travel anywhere. Even if we are allowed to travel again, it does not seem safe,” said Charif.

Charif, who has an offer to change her plan for free for the first time from her travel agency, said she learned from this pandemic to concentrate on the present instead of the future and to be thankful for what she has.

“This pandemic taught me many things, one being not to focus so much on what could happen in the future and to instead focus on the present and how to live just day-to-day,” said Charif. “This pandemic also taught me the true feeling of being grateful…just increased that feeling so much as I always read about the unfortunate situations that others are in because of this virus outbreak.”

With people  cancelling their trips, travel agencies have been chaotic handling clients’ situations, says a local travel agent.

Maria Voros, the owner of Complete Travel Agency, said changes that can happen anytime like COVID-19 deeply affect them.

Voros said she is working hard to help all her clients, but is facing some difficulties.

“I am extremely busy canceling everything, and I am extremely busy trying to appease people, I’m trying to help people to be comfortable and you understand that I am working with you,” said Voros. “I still have three people in Hungary that I could not bring back. I have two in Italy and I have one in Romania.”

Regarding clients’ cancellations, she said some people will get money back on their credit cards, while others are willing to accept vouchers that are valid for 24 months.

Voros also said she advises people to buy insurance to stay on the safe side in case of sudden changes, even if they do not think they need it.

In addition to affecting travelers, employees in the industry have also been affected by uncertainly surrounding summer travel. According to WestJet’s Twitter account, on March 24, 6900 WestJetters received notices of both voluntary and involuntary leaves due to the impact of COVID-19.