b'TIME TO DUST OFF YOUR SUITCASES! EWVIR IA F RGINBOOKING CONFIDENCE PANDEMIC CHALLENGESTherolloutofvaccinationshasin- TheCOVID-19pandemicbrought creasedbookingconfidence,Virginiamanychallengestothetravelindustry, explained.Nowpeoplehavehope.including Marlin Travel Port Perry, which Many bookings are currently coming inwas established 37 years ago. for cruises and land destinations, at 50:50.The first lockdown in March of 2020 Virginiasaysshehasevenhadcallscoincided with March break and the re-from people in the waiting area after theirturn of the snowbirds. This is always one COVID shot. I just got vaccinated, theyof the busiest times of the year for travel.sayenthusiastically.SoIwouldliketoIf COVID-19 was a storm, and everyone was in book a trip!People need something to look for- a different boat, the travel industry was in a deflated ward to, said Virginia. Over a year ofdingy, described Virginia Frew, the owner of Marlin COVIDhibernation,hasbeenhardTravel in Port Perry.onthosewhoenjoyvisitingdifferentOntheWednesdaybeforeMarch destinations. break, Virginia arrived home from Florida Virginialovescruising.Sheper- to the airport in Hamilton, where she was sonally has five cruises booked, one forasked a strange question: Have you re-Novemberof2021andfourcruisesincently travelled to China? This was a clue 2022.as to what was coming to affect the travel My suitcases are getting dusty, sheindustry. Soon, everyone would be aware joked.of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.All of the Marlin Travel staff, ColleenA Do Not Travel Order was issued on Anderson,JeanScott,JanetKellyandthe Sunday. Planes were grounded.Mallory Lawlor love travelling for workSome people had already left for their or holidays, so they certainly understandfun-filledMarchbreakvacations.The theirclientsneedforsomeadventure after so much time isolated at home. Please turn to page 22TML-R: Jean Scott,Mallory Lawlor,Janet Kelly,Colleen Anderson,Virginia Frew.FOCUS - JULY 202121'