Many Surveys suggest that Americans are becoming warier of travel. Americans’ views on travel are souring as states that have reopened are again closing up everything to prevent the spread of coronavirus, making it impossible for the industry not to propose fresh measures in order to support companies devastated by a near halt to travel.
The slate of proposals includes measures that will help travel employers live out the worst of this downfall in the travel industry. Measures provide assistance with health-related necessities such as sanitation and personal protective gear as well as when appropriate, incentives to get Americans safely back to travel.
The U.S. Travel Association is worried about the industry and has made it clear that without these measures, it could fall into a depression lasting long after recovery. The latest polls show that 58 percent of leisure travelers say they will substitute vacations with “staycations” for the next months of this year.
A large majority like 77 percent say that they back up states enacting mandatory 14-day quarantines for out-of-state travelers from states with a second high wave of COVID-19.
“You name it, this industry and its workers need it,” marked U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “Travel businesses could not possibly have been ready for this level of cataclysm, and we cannot guess how many of the eight million jobs we’ve lost so far will remain gone for good without aggressive federal intervention to keep the industry on life support.”
The U.S. Travel Association is demanding the followings:
—Extend the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) until the end of the year; expand eligibility to destination marketing organizations (DMOs)—both non-profit and quasi-governmental entities that conduct economic improvement and productivity; increase the amount of the loan, and allow for a second loan.
—Provide up to $10 billion in federal grants to update safe and healthy travel rules, which are crucial if traveling wants to be a stand-up industry.
—Provide a short time and targeted liability protections for travel businesses to reopen.
—Support airports.
Dow also emphasized on the government and its ability to assist. He added that while that is true, Americans also need to do their part. “In order for jobs to be able to return, everyone needs to be wearing face masks in public, or the pain will only go on longer.”