INCENTIVE travel insiders northward from Australia to Europe are anticipating demand returning with an upturn in long-haul activity as 2022 approaches.
A gradual return of buyer confidence is expected from late 2021 and has prompted Sydney-based representation company Tourism Portfolio to launch a monthly circular to provide international meeting and incentive travel planners with up-to-date information from its DMC partners around the world.
The circular provides information on the current Covid-19 situation of each country or city, including vaccination rates, group gathering restrictions, and what the requirements are of Australian travellers.
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The first Confidence Corner report includes a focus on DMC IMS which has offices in Vienna, Budapest and Prague – all of which are ready and waiting for Australian groups.
There are no self-quarantine requirements in all three cities, however proof of vaccination is mandatory in Vienna.
Director of Planning at IMS Vienna, Isabella Hocher, said Austria is already looking picking up for 2022 with “a heavy demand for in-person events. And 2023 is building up too.”
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Tourism Portfolio’s Donna Kessler said now is the perfect time to start looking at incentive travel as talk of international borders reopening gathers pace.
“Europe and many countries are already welcoming groups and local planners should really be thinking now about their future international events to ensure they can travel within the period they want,” she said.
“We want to give planners real information and the confidence to start booking with professional DMCs who have weathered the Covid storm and remain financially strong and enthusiastic about the power of incentive travel rewards.”
