Plenty of places are seen as safe for tourists
Be it ever so humble, there’s sometimes no place like home when conflicts rage in some other parts of the world. But those involved in the travel industry say that while Canada is seen as a safe haven for travellers during these turbulent times, there are other countries as well that are viewed as safe and therefore attractive to those now wanting to explore the world.
Pat Probert of Toronto-area Bob Family Travel team says that Canada appears as a safe destination with “much to see and do” for clients but isn’t alone in that regard.
“There are many countries the Bob Family Travel team at TravelOnly feel confident in sending clients to, with Portugal being at the top of the list,” he says. “More and more clients are booking long-term stays in Portugal after visiting this beautiful country. Other countries like Spain, Ireland, Scotland and England are also top spots to visit or do cruises from. River cruising on the Rhine and Danube are great, however low water levels are currently causing some issues but this is temporary.”
Probert identifies St. Lucia as a “top destination in the Caribbean,” with a lot of clients wanting to visit it this coming winter. “It is also a favorite of ours.”
Probert says once the Iran war ends Bob Family Travel will be resending clients to Jordan and Egypt, where the agency had a great recent trip.
“There are lots of other countries that we feel safe travelling to. However caution is always advised regardless of how safe the place is,” Probert adds.
Meanwhile, Sally Mikhail of GMTours says conflicts in some parts of the world make people leery about visiting those regions but people are still on the go.
“Yes, conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa make travellers more cautious about certain regions,” she says. “Inflation, unpredictable airfares, and higher hotel prices make people hesitate before committing. This is just logic but the reality is a lot of people are still travelling. Humans are wired to explore. New places stimulate the brain with fresh sights, food , sound, new people and experiences, which make people energized and engaged.
Mikhail notes that people are shifting their behaviour and choosing “safer” destinations such as Portugal, Canada and Costa Rica instead of cancelling altogether.
“Travellers are preferring nature, wellness, and mindful travel over crowded urban tourism,” she adds. “For example, Portugal has low crime, political stability, a friendly culture, strong infrastructure, and predictable conditions. It’s one of the easiest and calmest countries for travelers — especially those seeking nature, wellness, or mindful travel. We live now in a different time and unexpected happenings everyday. We understand our customers and we have to make it easy for our preferred clients to ease the pressure. GMTours adds very flexible booking with flexible cancellation and changes in all new booking to match what is happening in the world now.”
Ethel Hansen Davey of Toronto’s Uniglobe Enterprise Travel says the only places that are not on her clients’ radar right now are the Middle East and the United States. “These are the only places that anyone is expressing safety and or privacy concerns about.
“The Caribbean and Mexico are selling well for the coming winter season, as are Portugal, Costa Rica and Panama. Some clients would like to see the sad issue with Cuba resolved so that they can get back to their favourite resorts there, where, over the years, they have built friendships with locals, as well as having fallen in love with the beaches. This also, of course, is a budget consideration. No place has really stepped into that price bracket.
“Europe is doing well for the summer and fall with the only concern being the record-high temperatures. I understand that travel within Canada is doing really well but, of course, many people do that as a road trip, so don’t heavily rely on travel advisors.”
