Why U.S. Tour Operators Face a Murky Future Despite Global Travel Reopening
Photo Credit: It's how many tour operators will be able to take advantage of the U.S. reopening to international visitors. Flickr / daveynin
Skift Take
As lucrative as the U.S. reopening to fully vaccinated international visitors stands to be for many companies in the travel industry, others are still deeply damaged so much to be properly prepared for the influx.
Ever since the United States announced it was reopening to fully vaccinated international air travelers, tour operators have amped up their preparations to take advantage of the large number of prospective guests booking flights to the U.S., especially after November 8 was unveiled as the exact reopening date.
But despite that surge in flights booked to the U.S., several tour operator executives are greatly concerned about the future of their sector, which was decimated by pandemic travel restrictions preventing overseas visitors they depended on. Many inbound tour operators — which sell U.S. travel products to international buyers such as travel agents and tour wholesalers — are fighting for their survival after largely being deprived of income for close to 20 months.
Even with his new glimmer of hope, operators are still dealing with staff shortages that have left them unable to operate their businesses fully, including the crucial marketing of their off
