Quebecers will continue to visit their favorite sunny destinations despite the crises that have shaken some of them, according to travel industry players. However, recent events of instability remind us of the importance of having “plans B and C” when it comes to travel, according to one expert.
The suspension of flights to Cuba, where the humanitarian situation is worrying, has diverted bookings to other destinations, such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, notes Véronique Capra, vice president of Voyages Bergeron and Passion Monde travel agencies.
She is convinced that Quebec travelers will return to the beaches of this Caribbean island as soon as flights resume.
“People will be happy to go and support the local population. There are people who go to Cuba every year. They go to the same place and know the people who work there,” explains Capra.
As for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the destination may be less popular for a while due to recent violent incidents. But once the situation has stabilized, reservations will return to normal, Capra believes.
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The president of the Quebec Association of Travel Agents, Moscou Côté, agrees.
“This is a situation we already experienced a few years ago. And, all in all, a few months later, everything was back to normal, both in people’s minds and in everyday life on the ground,” he recalls, pointing out that Mexico is a vast country with several seaside resorts.
Global Affairs Canada stated on its website on Thursday that “the security situation has now stabilized” in the regions affected by the events of Feb. 22 in Mexico.
Côté does not believe that these recent episodes of violence will change anything in the medium term in terms of Quebecers’ travel habits.
“Historically, what we’ve seen in the past is that situations like this come and go. Six months later, people have forgotten about them,” he said.
Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic account for 90 per cent of the available options for travelers wishing to go south. The remaining 10 per cent is shared among Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, and Saint Martin, among others, Côté points out.
While Capra currently notes an impact of recent events on perceptions and feelings of safety, she does not believe that Quebecers will stop traveling to the Caribbean or Mexico.
In his experience, traveler confidence eventually recovers after a period of instability, particularly when previous visitors confirm that the region is safe.
If the situation in Cuba and Mexico does not improve, “in the medium term, next year, we will clearly turn to other destinations,” but Caribbean countries will always be popular, said Marc-Antoine Vachon, tourism researcher at Université du Quebec à Montreal, earlier this week.
Historically, price and quality are the two main factors consumers consider when choosing a vacation destination. Safety is also an important aspect, and when this issue comes into play, it carries a lot of weight in the decision, says Vachon.
“Physical safety is something we’re really not used to incorporating into the decision-making model, especially here in Quebec. So when it comes into play, I feel that we’re very, very reluctant to take risks, especially if we’re going with our families,” said the marketing professor.
The geopolitical context is becoming increasingly important in choosing a vacation destination, especially since the change of administration in the White House, observes John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University who specializes in the airline and travel industry.
He believes that further upheavals could occur in Latin America and that no tourist region in the world is truly safe.
Even if the risk is minimal, “we must always be flexible with our travel plans because this geopolitical instability can happen quite suddenly and can ruin our travel choices,” warns Gradek.
“We need to make sure we have backup plans when making our selection,” he continues. This includes taking the necessary precautions to allow us to make changes to our travel plans in case of unforeseen events and to minimize financial losses.
In addition to purchasing cancellation and interruption insurance, it may be worthwhile to sign up for protection plans offered by tour operators. These can allow you to change your dates or destination, says Capra.
Gradek also encourages Quebecers to learn about the political situation and be aware of the social environment of the country they wish to visit. “Brochures don’t always provide this kind of insight,” he says.
Capra points out that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more customers are inquiring about the situation at their destination before leaving.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
