Is it ethical to recommend travel right now?
(Updated Nov. 19, 2020)
Last week the travel advisor community engaged in a heated online debate regarding a Facebook post by the consumer/travel advocate Christopher Elliot which he later discussed in a USA Today article. Elliot stated his belief that it is borders on unethical for travel advisors to recommend travel now while the world is in the throes of a second COVID-19 surge.
Elliot’s words carry a lot of weight. His articles and columns in the Washington Post, USA Today and Forbes (among others) are widely read. He argued that while it is fine to plan “post-pandemic” travel, he did not feel it was ethical for advisors to recommend travel NOW. By recommending travel now, Elliott asserted, advisors are sending clients into harm’s way. Using the analogy of a financial advisor pitching a high commission stock that will be worthless in a few weeks or a doctor recommending an unnecessary surgery, Elliott argued travel advisors have a “higher duty of care” to their clients.
A number of advisors agreed with his argument saying discretionary travel NOW should not be recommended at this point in time. It is not only a matter of safety of the client, but also to protect the health and safety of those who HAVE to travel such as first responders (nurses, firefighters, doctors) and as well as flight crews. Some believe there is a societal obligation to do everything possible to stop the spread of the virus and this includes discouraging unnecessary travel. Others acknowledged that while they are taking economic hits for their decision not to book travel now, they feel that global health and safety issues should take precedence.
However, a vast majority of agents disagreed with Elliott’s stance. The primary argument was that it is not up to an advisor to make the “go/no go” decision on behalf of their clients. The role of the travel advisor is simply to provide all the relative information to the client and then let the client make the decision about whether or not to travel. ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors) issued a statement in response to Elliot’s article. Portions of that statement follow below
“Since well before the pandemic, ASTA has counseled its members to use objective third-party sources of information to make their clients fully aware of the risks related to traveling but that in every case the decision to travel, or not to travel, is the client’s alone. To be sure, there is more risk associated with traveling now than before COVID-19, but we couldn’t disagree more with the author’s broad-brush conclusion that selling travel of any kind today is unethical. Such an unqualified proclamation ignores not only the fact that each traveler has her own level of risk tolerance, but also fails to acknowledge the critical role travel advisors play serving their clients when travel is, under anyone’s definition, considered ‘essential.’ Moreover, the article completely discounts the unprecedented steps travel suppliers have already taken to mitigate risk, such that, in the words of the World Health Organization (WHO), ‘Your chance of being exposed [to COVID] during the travel process is actually relatively low because of all the measures that have been taken.’
“. . . while we all wait with great anticipation for a vaccine, we cannot realistically expect that one or more will be widely available until well into next year. Until then, people can and will travel while following the latest public health guidance, testing, health and safety protocols. Risk management does not mean risk elimination and each individual traveler, fully informed by their expert travel advisor, should be able to determine their own tolerance for travel. In our view, following this course is more ethical than completely shuttering an industry that supports 1 in 10 jobs in this country.”
So where do I stand?
COVID 19 is surging. Americans are contracting the virus at a rate of over 125,000 people per day. 250,000 are dead and that number continues to rise. We are asked to forego Thanksgiving with our families and friends. Schools, restaurants, gyms, (insert your favorite activity here) are being closed or severely curtailed to stop the spread of the virus and to protect the health and safety of our communities. So in this instance when so much is at stake I would advise clients - if you don’t have to travel - don’t.
The vast majority of VIAKU’s business is LEISURE travel. My role as a travel advisor is to design, plan and execute wonderful, worry-free vacations for my clients. Facilitating this type of travel during a pandemic is not possible. I cannot guarantee my clients that their travel will be safe, wonderful and worry-free. There is the added risk that it could potentially endanger not only their health and safety but also that of their loved ones and their communities. While my small business has been devastated by COVID-19 and it will be a struggle to make it through to the other side, I would struggle a LOT more if any of my clients ended up stuck, stranded or sick with a potentially deadly virus during their trip.
I am happy to plan FUTURE travel. We will travel again. By taking painful but necessary steps NOW to reduce the spread of the virus I am confident we will be able to travel next year. There are several very promising vaccines on the horizon and once these are made more widely available more travelers will be able, and feel confident, to safely explore the world. If my clients reach out to plan travel for later in 2021, 2022 or 2023 I’m happy to start planning those adventures. With today’s more flexible pandemic travel policies, there is little risk in “putting some hope on the calendar.” But for the balance of 2020 I would encourage everyone to do what they can to stop the spread - mask up, socially distance, wash your hands and do your part to keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe.
I also respect that there are individuals who will weigh the risks and decide to travel. It is the right of each person to make that decision for his/her/their self and each person’s circumstances are unique. There are people who HAVE to travel on business - first responders, firefighters, nurses, diplomats. Some are traveling for significant personal reasons and yes, some are determined to travel for leisure despite the risks. In these instances it is my responsibility to make sure they travel as safely as possible while minimizing the risk for them and to my business.
If a client is determined to travel after all the risks and regulations have been presented to them then I would consider assisting this traveler with 3 conditions:
1) COVID 19 Waiver - The client signs a COVID19 travel waiver acknowledging they understand the risk of traveling during this period (the potential risks are outlined in the waiver) and agree to hold VIAKU harmless for any injury or harm that may arise as a result.
2)Terms and Conditions - The client signs updated Terms and Conditions that include language on passenger responsibilities when traveling
3) Travel Insurance - The client must purchase travel Insurance with COVID19 protections.
If a client feels strongly enough about traveling to agree to these three requests then I will assist them.
For the majority of my clients staying at home for the next few months is their preferred choice and they are searching for “wellness alternatives” to travel. During these stressful times it is important to find things to improve your mental and physical health. There are the simple pleasures of reading a book, taking a walk and connecting with friends and family. But here’s one more idea. Take some of the money you would have spent traveling and treat yourself to takeout from a local restaurant, make a donation to a a local charity that is addressing a need brought on by the pandemic (food insecurity, unemployment in the arts) or buy a friend a gift card from a small business that needs your support. It’s a win-win.
When it’s safe to travel again, VIAKU will be here for you.
Karen