Where to send concerned clients

WHILE travellers
visiting Europe have
expressed concern
over their safety, there are
still destinations within the
region that are far removed
from the current hotspots of
Belgium, France and Turkey.
Travellers are aware of
terrorist hotspots and this is
making them more cautious
when deciding where to
travel to within Europe,
says BCD Travel marketing,
communications and supplier
relations manager, Vanessa
Krook.
She says travellers have
begun asking questions
they didn’t ask previously,
such as whether a particular
destination is safe and how
the consultant plans to stay
in touch throughout the
duration of the trip. “That is
why our agents have been
asked to read and know what
is going on in the world and
inform their travellers as
soon as something occurs
which affects their client or
the route the client is taking.”
Vanessa believes that now,
more than ever, is the time
for consultants to be aware
of what is going on in the
world. “Emotional intelligence
has never been as important
as it is now for travel
consultants.”
It is also important for
agents and travellers to know
the hotspot destinations,
which Europe as a whole is
fast becoming, Vanessa says.
Travellers have called in
worried about the safety of
travelling to Europe, agrees
Topdeck Travel sales manager
for the Western and Eastern
Cape, Natalie Christodoulou.
However she says they
have not begun to cancel
their bookings just yet. “We
have been advising agents
to book the trips for their
clients – and if something
happens along the way which
leads to the travellers feeling
unsafe, we can always give
them a full refund before they
depart.”
Natalie says though, that
the Greek Islands are safer
options for travellers who
want to visit Europe but are
afraid of those terror spots
that have appeared over the
last few months.
She adds that sailing along
the European coastline is
another great option for
travellers concerned about
the attacks that often seem
to target tourist attractions.
“Eastern Europe is also
great for agents to suggest
right now because, not
only is it safer than the
more popular European
destinations at the moment,
but it also offers great value
to travellers in terms of the
rate of exchange,” Natalie
says.
Inge Dobihal, co-owner
of Austria Connection,
agrees, saying that Eastern
European countries seem to
be much safer as terrorist
organisations looking to
make statements would
focus less on the countries
within this region because
of Eastern Europe’s sociopolitical
standing within
Europe as a whole.
“For travellers who have
been to Europe before, we
strongly recommend
Croatia, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Poland, Romania,
Slovenia and Austria, which
are countries of great
historic interest, offering
a wealth of arts and
architectural treasures,”
she adds.