National itineraries are the new thing and prices for promotional travel packages will depend on the market. This is one of the analyzes of the president of Braztoa, Roberto Haro Nedelciu, in the series of interviews of ‘Live do Tempo’. He also spoke about travel market trends and the difficulties faced by operators in times of coronavirus pandemic.
According to Nedelciu, the tourism market was the first to feel the economic impacts of the crisis, even before other sectors, with the cancellation of trips. According to the president of Braztoa, the scenario is being faced in stages, and at current one, many tour operators are offering discounts on future purchases.
“There are already several promotions on the internet, offered by travel agents. The time they will remain (the discounts) will depend on the market. National routes, close routes, are the flavor of the month,” evaluates Roberto Haro Nedelciu, explaining that many of the good offers are already in the second half of this year.
He also stated that about 50% of Braztoa associates are making sales. For this year, the sector's expectation is, at least, to maintain the previous year's revenue - about R$ 15.2 billion (US$2.65b) registered by the 92 companies associated with the entity. He also said that the economic recovery of the sector will be slow, at least 18 months, and that the entire tourism chain will need to reinvent itself.
“We were already working on a possible disruption of the tourism market, but no one would have guessed that it would be so close. Who works with tourism presupposes agglomerations, whether in buses and theme parks. Now, until you have a vaccine, this will be in the background,” he explained.
Nedelciu also assesses that, possibly, there will be a relaxation in the law to allow the opening of casinos, especially within resorts. “It will not be released for all locations in Brazil, but there will be some areas that may allow them. I don't have a crystal ball to know when, but maybe next year or the next one,” he explained.
Aid for tourism
According to the president of Braztoa, only 3% of the associated agencies managed to get some help from banks to face the crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic. For him, there is a lack of information at the end, in the bank's direct dealings with customers. "Many managers didn't even know about this help, this credit," he pointed out when saying that the Chamber and the government should propose amendments and packages to help the sector soon.
Anxiety
Nedelciu says people are looking forward to traveling again. “The Brazilian loves to travel and, even with restrictions, he will not stop doing it. The person will be tired of seeing the sofa, the television and will use the trip to de-stress. It will not be a long trip, a trip to a close place, to de-stress,” he said. He stressed, however, that the rise in the dollar and unemployment can cause a disincentive in that first moment.
International travels
The president of Braztoa also believes in a release of trips to Europe in two months. “After September there should already be an opening in Europe. Obviously, with safety protocols, sanitary protocols, with temperature measurement, they will make a prophylaxis when you enter the airports, you will have to wear a mask, but I think (by then) it will have already opened,” he estimates.
Regarding road trips, Nedelciu believes that this is a very strong trend. “Especially within a 500 km radius of where you live. But the trend in the coming months is also to increase flights,” he concludes.
Source: GMB / O Tempo
