Group Tour Magazine - February 2023 - 19

1. TOUR BOOKINGS WILL
CONTINUE TO CLIMB
Despite a tidal wave of challenges over
the past several years, travel demand has
bounced back from pandemic lows. The
details are in the data: Results from a late
summer member survey by the National Tour
Association (NTA) found that tour operators'
packaged-travel clients are returning in
droves. The same is true for customized
travel bookings, which the association says
its members are seeing grow at a remarkable
rate. Two-thirds of tour operators reported
bookings are meeting or exceeding expectations,
with 33% claiming business as stronger
than expected. International travel business
sentiment was nearly identical, with 30%
of operators reporting bookings that were
stronger than expected.
Growth in bus tour bookings also grew
immensely in 2021, according to the American
Bus Association (ABA), and the organization
anticipates continued demand for
even more tours, particularly across youth
and school groups, in the future.
" Our team at the American Bus Association
kept hearing about this incredible demand
for travel in 2022-and from everything we've
14 FEBRUARY 2023
seen, there really was, " says Peter Pantuso,
president and CEO of the ABA. " Today, people
are saying they're just about at full capacity,
whether it's a bus tour, hotel, or restaurant.
Everybody's doing well right now. It's a great
thing to see. "
2. TOURISM WORKFORCE
SHORTAGES WILL RAGE ON
It's no secret that tour operators and destinations
continue to face many staffing and
service challenges due to the impact of
COVID-19. To protect their clients' experience
and meet the ever-changing needs
of travelers, tourism industry leaders urge
tour operators to take a proactive approach
to understand potential staff-, service-, and
experience-related issues at their planned
destinations and attractions.
" Staffing shortages among tour partners
and destinations, including at hotels,
restaurants, attractions, and entertainment
venues, will continue to impact tour operators
and their clients' experiences, " says
Catherine Prather, president of the NTA.
" From fewer servers and lower-quality service
to eliminated services like baggage
claim and valet parking, tour operators
must keep in mind the ever-evolving landscape
of the service industry in the wake of
COVID-19 disruption. "
Prather says proactive communication
is key. She recommends tour operators call
destinations well in advance to check they
can adequately and efficiently accommodate
their groups-and then pivot to adjust as
needed based on both real and perceived
challenges. In addition to destination and
attraction staff, the bus industry is also
reeling from the side effects of the postCOVID-19
workforce shortage. Driver shortages
are a huge issue for an industry that's
experiencing a flood of bookings.
" I think one of the biggest trends that we
saw in 2022, and even more so one of the biggest
challenges, is certainly the driver shortage
on the motorcoach side of the house, "
Pantuso says. " If you don't have a bus driver,
the bus isn't going anywhere. "
He describes the problem as a " pandemic
of its own kind. " He also says it's a trending
challenge the entire industry must be aware
of and account for.
" Operators on the tour side of the house
have to be aware that this was a tough year,
and it's going to be even harder next year, "
Group Tour Magazine - February 2023

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