Clients commit to plans despite Europe wildfires
Josie Klein
Wildfires in key summer-sun destinations have yet to spark cancellations for the coming weeks but one Portugal-based agent has warned that further blazes may make customers think twice about travelling. Pippa O’Keefe, a homeworker
with 360 Private Travel who divides her time between Portugal and Bath, was among agents who reported that customers were currently continuing with holidays as planned. But she fears the extreme
temperatures in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece will continue in the coming weeks, and could affect clients’ confidence. “Portugal suffers from forest fires
every year, but they are normally much worse in August because the heat is higher,” she said. “So they are absolutely going to continue throughout the summer. “I’ve got clients booked through
to the end of the summer who don’t seem too concerned yet. But I worry that they will [become anxious] when it gets closer to their trip.” O’Keefe’s parents live in Quinta
do Lago, an exclusive resort in the Algarve, and were evacuated along with tourists when wildfires affected
some private villas and part of a golf course last week. “It is concerning that these fires,
which tend to happen more in the mountains, are now beginning to happen in touristy areas,” she said. O’Keefe attributed the lack of
cancellations to customers’ desire to fulfil holiday plans, adding: “It feels as if the travel industry has been under constant battles these past two years – and customers are exhausted. “They have faced so many
obstacles that, if not the fires, there will be something else causing a problem, such as flight cancellations or Covid. They just want to go away regardless.”
Yorkshire MPs back calls to keep
Doncaster Sheffield airport open Labour and Conservative MPs in Yorkshire have united to support calls to keep Doncaster Sheffield airport open. The future of the South Yorkshire airport is in doubt, after its owner said the site “may no longer be commercially viable”, particularly following the withdrawal of Wizz Air. More than 60,000 people have signed a petition demanding the airport stays open.
6 21 JULY 2022 The Foreign Office has updated
its advice for Spain, Portugal, France and Slovenia to reflect the dangers posed by “exceptionally high” temperatures. The fires came as the UK also
witnessed extreme temperatures, which caused travel disruption. Luton airport suspended flights on July 18 after the heatwave caused a surface defect on the runway. Additionally, passengers travelling
to the airport faced rail disruption the following day as Thameslink and East Midlands Railway suspended services between Bedford, and St Pancras International and London Blackfriars.
US programme for reporting
Covid-19 cases on ships ends The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ended its programme for reporting Covid-19 cases on cruise ships. The programme, launched at the start of the pandemic, allowed the public to monitor the spread of the virus at sea. The policy was criticised by many in the sector when introduced.
Airport chaos boosts first-time
bookings for P&O’s Iona to 50% Airport chaos and the cost-of-living crisis are driving new-to-cruise bookings on P&O Cruises’ vessel Iona, according to the line’s president. Paul Ludlow told Sky News about half of the 5,200-passenger ship’s guests are new to cruise, which is “slightly more than the fleet average”. He added: “People are desperate to get away and cruise is very en vogue at the moment.”
travelweekly.co.uk
Wildfire in Braga, Portugal
Silversea acquires Crystal Endeavor to replace Explorer
Silversea Cruises has bought Crystal Cruises’ expedition vessel Crystal Endeavor for $275 million and plans to relaunch it later this year in Antarctica. The ship will be rebranded in
dry dock in Europe before operating a “couple of shakedown cruises” in mid-November. It will then take over Silver Explorer’s season. From Antarctica, the ship, which
will be renamed Silver Endeavour, will reposition to the Arctic. Bookings for Silver Endeavour have now opened. Explorer will leave Silversea in
November 2023 and start operating for new line Exploris, which will enter the French market next year. Silversea president and chief
executive Roberto Martinoli, who recently spent two days on Crystal Endeavor in Gibraltar, said: “The ship is of a very high standard and is compatible with what we do at Silversea Expeditions. “We thought it was a great fit
for our product and our fleet. We are really very happy about getting tonnage so soon.”
Crystal Endeavor
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Bruno Ismael Silva Alves
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