INDIANAPOLIS — Most travel plans have been put on pause since last March, but as the world continues to open slowly, some restrictions are being put in place, and the travel industry is having to adjust.
Many people are itching to pack their bags and head to literally anywhere other than their homes, and as we head into 2021, travel agencies are watching the industry closely.
“We are going to try to weather through this storm just like we did all the others in the past,” said Mark Moorhead, the president of The Travel Agent Inc. in Carmel.
Being in business for more than 40 years, they have weathered plenty of storms.
“In the 90s we had an economic downturn in 2007 and 2008 we had an economic certainly 9-11 when all air traffic stopped, we had those people who said they are going to travel anymore, but then the majority of our clients are very seasoned travelers, and they understand that this will come back,” said Moorhead.
He said most of his clients decided not to ask for refunds and instead put their trips on pause.
“They are seasoned travelers, and they decided that they will be traveling again, so they said just hold onto my tickets in my information and so forth and I want to get back to Europe and South America and go on a cruise and so forth,” said Moorhead.
As of right now, you are allowed to travel outside the country, but starting January 26, 2021, you will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test to get back into the United States.
This applies to everyone, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status.
And as we continue to navigate this pandemic and the ever-changing circumstances, Moorhead suggests that everyone planning a trip goes through an agency and purchase insurance.
“In the past, we always encourage purchasing travel insurance now, I don't think, I’m not so sure we won't enact some kind of requirement that falls into that category in order to protect them people don't know what they don't know,” said Moorhead.
