TORONTO — Winter getaways to Portugal. A bucket list trip to Antarctica. And of course – it is January, after all – the Caribbean.

These are just a few of the many, many requests for trips that travel advisors tell Travelweek they’re getting this week. In other words, the usual gamut of worldwide destinations. However the industry is still very much on alert for Caribbean hesitancy in the coming weeks in the wake of the U.S. administration’s strike on Venezuela.

The Portugal inquiries were from clients looking to book away from the usual sun spots, said TurnKey Travel’s Jennifer McPherson.

“Since the new U.S. administration, I have had many clients say that they will not travel to the U.S. and now that there is additional media attention on the Caribbean, I am sure some will think twice. However, some of my clients have already booked for alternate locations such as Portugal for this winter,” McPherson told Travelweek.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization issued a statement yesterday noting that the CTO and its 25 member destinations have been closely monitoring geopolitical developments in Venezuela and addressing disruptions experienced by travellers due to the temporary closure of airspace this past weekend.

“The Caribbean has extensive experience managing external disruptions and has consistently demonstrated the resilience of its tourism industry. We are grateful to our airline partners for adding capacity to ensure travellers were able to continue with their plans, and to the accommodations sector for its flexibility in supporting affected guests, while safeguarding the region’s vital economic engine,” said the CTO.

“Cruise and air travel within the Caribbean remain operational, and advance bookings continue to be strong. CTO encourages travellers to proceed with their plans and assures partners and visitors that the Caribbean remains open for business and ready to welcome travellers.”

“EACH CLIENT’S COMFORT LEVEL WITH TRAVEL IS VERY PERSONAL”

Jennifer Gaskell with Pink Palm Travel said she isn’t seeing any Caribbean hesitancy yet. “Demand for the Caribbean remains strong overall; I think part of this is due to the current Government of Canada guidance recommending normal security precautions for these destinations. I have had many inquiries about travelling to the Caribbean, despite the news.”

She added: “That being said, I recognize that travel confidence can shift quickly depending on how situations evolve and how information is interpreted. Ultimately, each client’s comfort level with travel is very personal. If there is any area that may face increased scrutiny, I suspect the ABC islands could see some hesitation depending on how the broader geopolitical narrative unfolds — though that has not yet materialized in client behaviour.”

Reaction from the industry on Caribbean hesitancy is mixed, judging by a look at consumer media headlines in the CBC (‘Canadian tourists voice concerns over Caribbean travel after U.S. strike on Venezuela’), The Globe and Mail (‘Canadian travel plans in Trump’s crosshairs again after U.S. attack on Venezuela’) and more.

Not only is this the Canadian travel industry’s high season for winter sun travel to the Caribbean, it’s also a time when airlines including Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat have sharpened their focus on South America network expansion amid the decline in Canadian travel to the U.S.

Air Canada Vacations’ VP Nino Montagese told Travelweek that “it is business as usual at this time” for ACV, when asked earlier this week about any impact to bookings for Mexico, Cuba and the Caribbean.

WestJet, asked about bookings for WestJet and also for Sunwing Vacations, said it is monitoring the situation and is not seeing any significant impact on bookings. “Canadian travellers continue to travel as planned. We’ll continue to communicate with travellers and advisors should anything change.”

Lush Life Travelʻs Sheila Gallant-Halloran focuses on river cruises, expedition sailings, and small ship ocean cruises – not sun-and-sand getaways – “so the current headlines haven’t directly impacted the kinds of trips I typically book,” she told Travelweek.

However she is monitoring for airspace closures and flight path changes after the Venezuela developments. Like any experienced travel advisor, she knows that circumstances can change on a dime.

“In general, Canadians are still very much in that ‘elbows up’ mindset – they’re cautious, yes, but also determined to live fully,” she said.

There’s also an element of ‘expect the unexpected’ with travel these days. One client asked Gallant-Halloran about visiting monks in Washington as a personal move toward peace.

As McPherson told Travelweek, “whether it’s a hurricane or political issues or some local violence, there are always issues that can pop up and cause travellers to second-guess a destination. This questioning can largely come down to the type of traveller as those that may already be more nervous are going to react more quickly and want to change/cancel.

“In the end, all of this frenzy just reinforces how important travel insurance is because we cannot plan for everything that may happen before or during our trip! Having coverage gives my clients that peace of mind.”