American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and European Travel Agents ‘and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) – which , together, representing the interests of hundreds of thousands of travel agencies and employees around the world, collectively call on the leaders of global governments to align their policies in order to restart international travel as safely and quickly as possible. According to them, reopening the borders should be an immediate priority.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that travel and tourism was one of the largest sectors in the world in 2019, generating 10.4% of total global GDP ($ 9.2 trillion). Globally, the industry was also responsible for 10.6 percent of all jobs (334 million) and was credited with creating 25 percent of all new jobs.

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The coalition said the recovery of this crucial sector from the devastation caused by the pandemic can only truly begin if global governments standardize their entry requirements, such as vaccine verification and testing protocols. He stressed the urgent need for a universal set of border regulations and agreed with The Economist when he called the current system, “a jumble of rules [that] causes confusion, stifles tourism and leaves businesses struggling to determine who can do what and where.

The agency associations jointly pointed out that, for over a year now, global governments have enacted inconsistent and multifaceted travel restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. The variety and scalability of these rules has confused and instilled uncertainty among travelers, with catastrophic effects on “future bookings and countless other challenges for travel agencies that are members and partners of our associations”.

In addition to hurting small businesses and people employed in the travel industry, this inability to unify entry requirements also hurts the economies of destinations that depend on tourism income and, to some extent, has a huge impact. on the world economy.

ASTA, ABTA, ACTA, CHTA and ECTAA have highlighted concerns about the continued ruinous effects of COVID-19, especially given the new life the Delta variant has breathed into the pandemic. “With continued uncertainty on the horizon, this kind of news makes those who want to travel less likely to do so,” they wrote.

The coalition therefore calls on government leaders around the world to “create an aligned and synchronized response” by 1) rapidly developing a clear and universal set of vaccine tests and standards; 2) relaxation of entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers; and 3) supporting the struggling travel agency sector with economic aid measures.

Travel agencies and advisers are an integral part of the travel industry, the group of industry associations stressed, which have for too long suffered “the bitter consequences of the abrupt cessation of travel caused by the pandemic.” . Now more than ever, they play a vital role in helping consumers navigate the vast complexities of travel planning.

People who plan to travel to Southeast Asia after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and borders reopened often rely on travel agencies in their home country to book all of their travel details. But why wouldn’t you use a local travel agency in South East Asia handle the details?

Unless the people employed by your trusted home travel agency spend a large portion of their time in Southeast Asia, they won’t actually take care of “all the details”; they will forward your information to a local travel office in Southeast Asia. And the local agency in Asia will be the one to put everything in place.

The local agency in Asia is made up of English speaking and qualified travel agents. Otherwise, the travel agency in your city wouldn’t trust them.

Internet changes everything

Devolution of responsibilities to agencies at a destination was common practice in the travel industry. And small travel agencies located far from the most popular travel destinations still want this to be the norm. But the truth is, the internet has changed the whole dynamic of travel.

Travel agencies used to, and still have to some extent, a whole network of relationships with agencies in travel destinations around the world. They would use this network to find people who could organize the details for their clients. Most of these agents worked on commission. Small travel agencies that have gained a good reputation because of the breadth of their contacts have a lot of loyal customers.

The internet has changed all that and made it unnecessary to involve the small agency far from the travel destination.

Power of direct communication

Nowadays, an English-speaking travel office in Southeast Asia can communicate directly with potential clients via Zoom or Skype. You can speak face to face with an agent and get an idea of ​​the quality of the visit they can offer by the questions they ask and the suggestions they offer. And after all, isn’t that precisely how you chose your travel agency in your hometown?

The only thing that has changed is the distance between the two of you. But your local agency may have used this agent to book travel for another of their clients. If they trust local travel agencies in Southeast Asia, why not you?

The Internet has enabled comprehensive websites showing exactly what a local travel office in a travel destination can offer. You can also check credentials and read customer reviews of their online services.

The power of direct communication makes travel arrangements more transparent and eliminates many intermediaries who charge commissions for their services.

By dealing directly with a South East Asia travel agency, you can be assured that you will experience what you expect on your trip of a lifetime to a fascinating part of the world.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A local travel agency is working to boost tourism in Oregon and help its clients experience adventures all over the world, even as they face the challenges the pandemic has brought imposed on world travel.

Modern adventure CEO Luis Vargas has said he expects a big comeback in the industry in the future, despite the immediate challenge of the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak.

For this reason, he recommended that people start dreaming now for their next adventure, even if it means reserving it for 2023.

“Having something to look forward to, I think, is such an important thing,” Vargas said. “? Like, you know, it won’t be trivial to have space, if you will, in some of the top destinations in the world.

Portland-based Modern Adventure partners with brands and individuals, such as chefs and artists, to create tour packages for guests.

“We look through the lens of this brand to bring a place to life. And then we do it both here in our backyard here in Oregon and all over the world, ”Vargas said.

Vargas said the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant challenge for the company. While it started off on the right foot before the start of the pandemic, they only recently completed their first travel experience package since the start of the global disease outbreak.

“We were able to get great support from the investment community and frankly I think we had a great start and then the pandemic took all the oxygen out of the room,” Vargas said. “But we are more optimistic than ever about the return of travel. We have already seen bookings come back significantly since the end of the year.

In mid-July, that magical window after Oregon largely reopened due to COVID restrictions, but before the Delta variant epidemic hit the country head-on, Modern Adventure took off. paired with Willamette Valley Adelsheim Vineyard for a travel experience tailored to locals and visitors alike.

“It was truly a celebration of Oregon. Adelsheim recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. And it was really with this in mind that the wine region as we know it really started, ”said Vargas.

The trip included two nights in McMinnville for intimate tastings in the heart of the Willamette Valley, including at the Adelsheim winery and family home, as well as tastings at other wineries in the valley, such as Soter and Beaux. Feres.

There was also a portion of the two-night trip devoted to the Oregon coast, with crab and a meal prepared by the chef at the Stephanie Inn.

“I think having people from all over the country coming here to our backyard, frankly, they’re completely blown away, both in terms of the story and the tale of this pioneering spirit collaboration,” of wine quality, you really know at all levels, ”said Vargas.

Modern Adventure is a certified B-Corp, which means it is a company that chooses to adhere to certain social and environmental ethical standards. For example, the company is Climate Neutral certified and is a member of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund.

Vargas said travelers who take a conscientious approach to exploring the world, in terms of social and environmental impacts, are part of a larger societal trend that he sees as a shift “from the age of things to. the age of experiences ”.

“And frankly, we think there’s a, you know, a golden age of travel ahead, both in terms of demand, pent-up demand from people so excited to go out and see the trip again. world. And then also just this consciousness evolved around the kind of experiences that are really going to make you this direct deposit that you are going to carry on with a renewed sense of this responsibility as to how we travel.

Vargas co-founded Modern Adventure with whom he has described as a world-class talent, including Joanne Vargas, his wife of 21 years and who has a busy career with Walt Disney and others. Scott McNeely, a former digital editor for Lonely Planet was also a co-founder of the company. The three of them, collectively, have nearly 100 years of experience in the travel industry, Vargas said.

Witnessing the life-changing power that travel can sometimes have, Vargas said he met his wife while at a southern Mexican campsite in Palenque.

“We started guiding together and she had been doing other guiding stuff. And we had the whole adventure. And all of our 20s we lived in a storage unit, really, we were just on the road full time. “

Eight years ago, the Vargas moved to Portland and started a family. But with the creation of their business, travel has always proven to be a central pillar in their life.

“We know travel is the only thing we can buy that really makes us richer,” Vargas said.

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted a myriad of things in the way we live. Not only have we learned to value our personal spaces and our community solidarity, but we have put into perspective the way we travel and the value we place on freedom of movement.

Together, these learnings made us more sensitive to the fair representation and authenticity of our experiences.

For Sadie Jordan and Emily Orgias, those life lessons came to fruition in Soul Life Travel, the first Black and Women owned travel agency in their native Costa Rica.

After years of providing travel advice to family and friends in the area, always trying to value the authenticity of the Caribbean, Jordan and Orgias founded Soul Life Travel. This agency combines their ten years of experience in the travel industry and their more than fifteen years as a personal globetrotter.

Soul Life travel offers unique and authentic trips that rival irresponsible tourism, which poses a growing threat to local culture, especially in Costa Rica.

“We believe that sustainable travel is both possible and essential, which is why we create exciting tours that showcase, without harming, the essence of the places you visit,” the founders explain on their website. “Our personal connection to the region not only enhances our expertise and commitment to the local community, but also motivates us to carefully design tours to suit all of your dream vacation desires.”

Like Jordan said Black Travel, there is a lot that people don’t know about Afro-Costa Rican culture. With Soul Life Travel, the founders hope people will learn by researching and planning trips for them. Their goal is to bring people together around culture, wellness and adventure on the often forgotten Caribbean coast.

“I created Soul Life Travel to show blacks and browns our cultures. A lot of things connect us, whether it’s our cooking or the way our mom throws herself into the kitchen, and so many experiences, ”Jordan said.

Soul Life Travel offers many tours, including “A Taste of Costa Rica”, “A Week in Costa Rica”, “Afro-Caribbean Costa Rica”.

“We want people to have a holistic view of the country and not follow the traditional travel circuit,” Sadie told Travel Noir. “It is essential for us to highlight the Caribbean coast because, historically, it has been outside the circuit of travel and tourism. We want to make sure that a lot of our money goes back to this area so that people can reinvest in their own businesses. “

Good news for people traveling to Costa Rica: there is officially a black and female owned travel agency in the area and it is founded by a native.

Sadie jordan spear Soul Life Travel to fill a need for representation, especially on the Caribbean coast of Limón.

“There was a void in the travel industry,” Jordan Recount Black Travel.

“I am Afro Latina,” she continued. “My mother is considered mixed race and my father is African American. Growing up in the United States, I was surrounded by lots of Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, and I felt my family was the only Afro-Costa Rican you would meet. People knew so many places in Latin America, but a lot of people didn’t know about Afro-Latino culture in Costa Rica.

Jordan said there are a lot of people who don’t know about the Afro-Costa Rican culture. She hopes people will learn by researching and planning trips for them. His goal is to bring people together for culture, well-being and adventure on the often overlooked Caribbean coast, which is close to his heart.

“I created Soul Life Travel to show blacks and browns our cultures. A lot of things connect us, whether it’s our cooking or the way our mom throws herself into the kitchen, and so many experiences, ”she said.

Soul Life Travel offers a number of tours including “A Taste of Costa Rica”, “A Week in Costa Rica”, “Afro Costa Rica in the Caribbean”.

The Jordanian travel agency is focused on the Puerto Viejo region of Costa Rica, so people can spend their money supporting black-owned businesses.

“We want people to have a holistic view of the country and not follow the traditional travel circuit. It is essential for us to highlight the Caribbean coast because, historically, it has been outside the circuit of travel and tourism. We want to make sure that a lot of our money goes back to this area so that people can reinvest in their own businesses. ”