The Queensland state border opened to regional NSW this week, but local travel agents do not expect business to pick up for another couple of months.
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"It might not be until early next year that we start to see a lift in people committing and having the confidence to go ahead with bookings interstate," Leah Temple of Helloworld Travel said.
Debbie Smith of Boland Travel agreed. "People are probably hesitant until borders have been open for a few weeks, and it looks like they will stay that way."
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Clients are still wary of booking holidays in the Sunshine State, Ms Temple said, after hopes were raised then dashed mid-year. Queensland opened its borders in July; would-be travellers eagerly made plans to head north - then were forced to cancel them when the borders slammed shut again.
"Customers lost their confidence about travel plans," Ms Temple said. Her agency also lost revenue. "The border opening has been so politicised we're still nervous as to whether it will stay open or be closed again for political purposes," she admitted.
But if borders remain open, and there are no further outbreaks of COVID-19, Ms Temple expects that customers could have the confidence by Christmas to book flights again.
Ms Smith hopes that by the end of November, people will start to plan for February and March. Her clientele base are mostly retirees, who try to avoid school holiday periods.
With fewer domestic flights operating, however, Ms Temple expects plane seats will be harder to get and more expensive.
Virgin Australia may help to keep prices grounded rather than spiralling into the blue. Following its purchase by US private equity firm Bain Capital, the airline is restructuring as a streamlined regional service, possibly in partnership with Alliance Airlines. Virgin could provide healthy competition for Qantas, and stave off a monopoly.
With plane flights still up in the air (so to speak), many NSW residents have opted to travel within the state this Christmas. Helloworld has access to regional travel packages, tourism information, and driving itineraries to northern NSW, along the South Coast, or out to Broken Hill, Ms Temple said.
Others are heading to the more remote parts of Australia. Boland's most popular destination is Tasmania (although Ms Smith expects Queensland to overtake it soon). Helloworld customers have booked to travel on the Ghan train between Adelaide and Darwin, and to Norfolk and Lord Howe Island.
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Both agents admit, however, that they have only had "a little bit of domestic business trickling through", as Ms Temple put it.
"We haven't had a major influx of clients lining up outside the door just yet," Ms Smith said. "I think it's very early."
Both travel agents encouraged the public to consult them. Ms Smith said: "We would absolutely be happy to talk and organise and help you."
"Please come and give us the opportunity to make these bookings," Ms Temple asked.
While foreign adventures may have been their focus for the last 15 years, travel agents have had to concentrate on domestic holidays this year.
"Our real strength and expertise in the past has been international travel - but we have relationships with regional tourism areas, and we would love to assist," Ms Temple said. "We've brushed up our regional skills over the last 12 months!"
Travel agents have been badly hit this year, and need support to remain in business.
"Help keep us afloat!" Ms Temple said. "Once international borders reopen, it is going to be very tricky to travel; [customers] need us then. We need their support now, or we won't survive."
Ms Smith said: "At the end of the day, you still end up with your wonderful holiday, but it does help us if we can book it for you."
- Boland Travel: Shop 11 Bowral Mall, Station Street, Bowral. Ph.: 4861 4567. Website: www.bolandtravel.com.au.
- Helloworld Travel Bowral: Shop 24/37, Wingecarribee Street, Bowral. Ph.: 4861 2888. Website: www.helloworld.com.au/store/bowral.
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