The Swine Flu Scare - Will It Cripple The Cruise Industry?
Wow, it has been a rough year for the travel industry. Last summer gas prices soared to an all-time high on the back of $147/barrel oil. This raised the cost of operational costs for both airlines and cruise lines sky high, and more than a few companies fell by the wayside, bankrupted by factors beyond their control.
The price of oil finally started to drop following the summer driving season, but unfortunately it wasn’t due merely to a return of rational thinking by speculative investors, but rather because world demand for oil had shrunk because of the deep, global recession that was crippling the economies of most major industrialized countries. As the recession deepened and people lost their jobs, travel companies suffered yet another crushing blow. When money is tight discretionary spending on things like luxury cruises is naturally the first casualty.
The economic outlook continues to be grim, but the stock markets had started to rebound, giving people hope that the worst of the pain had passed. However, just when there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel for the cruise lines and the airlines a third blow has been struck, and this one could bring the struggling travel industry to its knees.
Swine flu has been the buzz phrase in the media over the past several days, as hundreds of confirmed cases in Mexico, the United States and Canada have health officials worried that we might be seeing the beginning of the world wide flu pandemic that health professionals have been predicting is long overdue.
Travel advisories have been issued, and tourists are naturally reluctant to travel to any region where they might be exposed to the potentially deadly swine flu.
Already the luxury cruise industry has felt the impact with bookings for Mexican and Caribbean cruises down significantly and cancellations pouring in from customers who had already booked.
However, the woe in Mexico and surrounding countries may just be a temporary boon for the European cruise lines. For the time being Europe has yet to be impacted by the swine flu, and many travelers are considering Europe for their vacation this year. With the aforementioned problems the travel industry has already suffered last minute and discount cruise deals abound, and it doesn’t take much research to find great vacation bargains.
Should the swine flu spread and become the world-wide pandemic that every fears it will then the party will definitely be over, but in the meantime if you are looking for a luxury vacation at a great price, check out a European cruise, before this once in a lifetime vacation opportunity sails away.
No related posts.
Filed under: Cruise Deals, European Cruises