With fewer opportunities to cater for the increased demand, the current trend is for discounted prices of travel to remain lower than the pandemic levels. This is obviously good news for travel brokers who can take advantage of the lower prices in terms of their commissions. The reduced supply of airfares also offers a good opportunity for cheap airline deals which may appeal to those who want to fly on weekdays instead of weekends. However, many of these bargains will only last a short time as airlines reduce their normal weekend service levels to try to keep seats to a normal level.
There is a danger that travel agents could exacerbate the current difficulty faced by travellers. If demand exceeds supply, it can lead to a fall in prices that travel agents will profit from while customers have no alternative but to travel at whatever cost. It is quite likely that some airlines will adopt this approach in order to maintain the same low prices as before the pandemic. This means there is a risk that the current trend could be reversed and a hike in ticket prices could be followed by increased demand due to higher demand.
This news for travel agents comes at a time when shoppers are already feeling the pressure of the recession with many unable to keep buying in the top of the credit crunch. One good way to combat the problem is by selling items such as milk, cereals and bread at a discount. However, if it is not possible to do this, it is important to follow the latest fashion trends and avoid wearing clothes or shoes that are too trendy for the season. Instead, it may be wise to stick to more practical and durable items that can withstand any weather conditions. There is no doubt that a lot of people will continue to wear their designer shoes and clothes because they look good, feel good and add a certain amount of style to any outfit.
Of course, there is also bad news for travel professionals and news for travel enthusiasts. Although it seems unlikely, a serious pandemic could break out in Asia and spread to other countries, causing a link between China and the United States and causing millions of Americans to be turned away at airports. Therefore, it is very important that travel agents have a good contingency plan in place for pandemic seasons. The news for travel professionals does not look particularly good, but with millions of travelers expected to make their way to Asia this year, it would be a good thing if there was a system in place for people to identify infected clothing and other objects.
Another potential crisis for travellers would be the impact of a new disease that emerges in a place that is not familiar to most travelers. This would affect a niche market which is very important to both travellers and retailers. Travel is one of the main ways in which people earn money and therefore is one of the few industries that is growing at a rapid pace. It has become quite easy for someone living in a small village in Thailand or even on a North American street to get a transplant. This means that travel health professionals are already facing an onslaught of patients who are desperately looking to get treated before the situation gets worse. Without a proper marketing plan, however, they will find themselves struggling.
It is interesting to note how many news for travel professionals fail to address issues of value to customers. A smart brief is one that addresses customers in terms that make them want to pay more for the service. A smartbrief should discuss the benefits of paying a bit more for airfare, hotel accommodation, and other aspects of a trip in order to encourage paying customers. For example, a smartbrief should highlight why customers should book flights and then go into details about what customers should avoid doing in Thailand, or what they should do in Egypt. Such information is valuable to travellers and could make a real difference to their holiday.