Australia visa backlog ‘could hinder bookings’


Juliet Dennis


The trade has welcomed Australia’s relaxation of Covid border restrictions but warned a visa backlog may hinder initial sales. Skilled migrants and international


students will be among those allowed entry, providing they are fully vaccinated, from December 1. Eligible visa holders include


working holidaymakers and provisional family visa holders. They must return a negative Covid test in the three days before travel. Operators specialising in working


holidays and youth travel hailed Australia’s partial reopening, but admitted longer processing times could mean travellers waiting months instead of weeks to get visas. Australia stopped issuing visas during Covid. Contiki UK sales and marketing


director Donna Jeavons said uncertainty about a reopening date had been a major sales barrier. “To have a date is fantastic,” she


said. “We had already started to see an increase in enquiries and believe the [latest] news will give a real boost to the youth travel market and our Australia bookings.” But noting a “two to four-month expected processing time” for visas,


Operators cancel trips to Europe as restrictions tighten


Tour operators and river cruise lines have either cancelled holidays in response to tightening restrictions on the Continent or are


6 25 NOVEMBER 2021


she pointed out: “Someone booking today may not be able to get to Australia until April. For students wanting to travel now, we’d expect this to dampen demand to a small degree.” Contiki expects strong growth in


gap year travel and working holiday visas in 2022 and has put dates on sale up to 2024. Arron Mitchell, director for youth


specialist operator Syte, was “over the moon” about the reopening but cautioned some clients had waited since March for visa authorisation. He said: “There is a backlog. As


visas start getting issued we will see a big increase in sales. We’ve had so many enquiries. We don’t advise


Uluru


people to make firm plans until they have a visa.” Other operators hoped a wider


reopening was now on the horizon. APT managing director Paul


Melinis said: “This is a great first step. We hope [prime minister] Scott Morrison will soon extend its welcome back more broadly to double-vaccinated travellers.” Fully-vaccinated Australians,


permanent residents and immediate family have been allowed entry since November 1. The UK is the top market for


working holiday visas and more than 44,000 were issued to young travellers from the UK and Ireland in 2019.


Child vaccination rules are challenge for cruise agents


Cruise agents have opted not to promote ex-US sailings to UK families until cruise lines review child vaccination policies. Disney Cruise Line will require


passengers aged five and over to be double-jabbed against Covid-19 from January 13. Royal Caribbean asks children aged 12 and over to be fully-jabbed. The same applies for MSC Cruises’ ex-Florida voyages. Norwegian Cruise Line requires


all passengers to be fully vaccinated until 2022, but is expected to extend this policy indefinitely. The NHS currently offers only


the first vaccine dose to children 12 and over. The US, however, has approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged between five and 11. Cruise365 director Anthony


Blackmore has taken the decision to promote ex-US cruises only to adults this winter. He said: “It’s difficult for families from the UK.” Alison Earnshaw, managing


director of Cruise118 parent World Travel Holdings, said: “We’re not actively marketing family pricing.”


Disney Magic


closely watching the situation. Austria entered a lockdown


of at least 10 days on Monday, and became the first country to mandate vaccination. Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands faced tougher Covid rules as Travel Weekly went to press. Jet2holidays cancelled holidays


to Vienna from November 22 to December 1 and G Adventures


axed two Christmas market tours because Munich’s event was pulled. Ski specialist Inghams was


“monitoring the situation closely”, with its first departures to Austria due after December 12, the potential end date for a maximum 20-day lockdown. Customers can move holidays to later dates or different destinations. Chief executive Joe Ponte said the lockdown was


“concerning” but said: “We remain optimistic about the winter.” Tui’s Crystal Ski brand, coach


specialist Leger Holidays, sister brand Shearings and escorted tours operator Newmarket Holidays all said they were “monitoring” the situation. River lines Avalon Waterways,


Scenic, Emerald Cruises and Tui River Cruises said the same.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock\ Serge Goujon


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