Possibility of war alters plans of travelers- Travel agents say fewer people are making plans

www.visaliatimesdelta.com By Heidi Rowley Staff writer

Since January, the government has issued travel alerts for the following countries:

Algeria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Columbia, East Africa, Guatemala, Iraq, Israel -- the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Syria, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. See www.travel.state.gov.

Wary travelers are holding off on buying international tickets while they wait for a decision on the war with Iraq.

Wes Rowland, owner of Cruise Experts Agency on Court Street in Visalia, said the impending war and the nation's recently upgraded security alert doesn't affect his staff's everyday workload, but some of his customers have been affected.

"We do have some travelers who have chosen not to go to France," he said. "They're making alternate arrangements."

Before Sept. 11, 2001, Rowland said, March was a busy time of year, with people planning their spring and summer vacations.

"March has definitely been slower," he said. "It's a continued challenge for the travel industry. Certainly there's a decline in European demand."

Some people are opting out of trips to Europe or any air travel, Rowland said, and many are choosing easier, and sometimes cheaper, cruises. Those who do fly are restricting themselves to the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Since the security alert upgrade, Geraldine Bratshon, travel consultant for FirstValue Travel, said her agency has fielded many calls from worried customers who are traveling within the next week. Travel agents are still recommending that customers continue to travel, but also that they be cautious and use common sense.

The State Department recommends that U.S. citizens who travel outside the country "remain vigilant," avoid demonstrations and use common-sense precautions. In a worldwide caution issued in February, the government advised staying away from residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events, resorts or beaches where Americans are known to gather.

Locally, airlines are restructuring their flight cancellation policies to deal with the threat of war. Bratshon said most airlines have set policies that in the event of war or a red alert, concerned customers can cancel their flights or reservations and get credit for that flight at a later date. No airline or cruise line has said it will refund tickets.

International picture

British Airways announced it would suspend flights to and from Israel and Kuwait beginning today and pull its staff from those countries in light of a travel advisory issued by the British Foreign Office. Thai Airways International is suspending flights from Bangkok to Kuwait and Bahrain beginning Thursday.

"The safety and security of our operation is always our absolute priority, and we would not consider operating any flight unless we were satisfied totally that it was safe to do so," said Spencer Hanlon, British Airways commercial manager in Israel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Originally published Wednesday, March 19, 2003