Globus family of brands' tough Covid-19 rules for passengers

Tour company Globus has outlined tough new rules for anyone taking a trip with it in New Zealand and overseas.

The tour bus and riverboat company's pre-trip health and safety protocols include proof of a Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test result.

"The health and safety of our travellers is our number one priority," said Gai Tyrrell, managing director Australasia of Globus.

"We have continued to enhance on-trip safety standards throughout the pandemic to ensure we're ready to welcome guests back to travel when the world is ready. (Now), we're unveiling new pre-trip requirements."

Travellers are now required to offer Globus brands' personnel one of the following printed and/or digital verifications upon arrival:

• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel.

• Proof of a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of travel.

• Proof of recovery from a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis within three months of travel.

Without one of these verifications, travellers will not be able to join a planned holiday with Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways or Monograms. These requirements are in addition to any local government regulations.

''From our research, our customers are in favour of all passengers either having the vaccine or a negative test result before joining one of our tours or cruises, so we're confident that these requirements will also reassure our customers feel safe when they travel with us,'' Tyrrell told the Herald.

In addition to unveiling new Covid-19 parameters required at the start of each holiday departure, Globus said it would arrange – and cover – additional Covid-19 testing, if required, for guests to return to their home country, as well as tests on trip if guests show symptoms.

These new protocols will take effect in April, 2021.

Tyrrell said there had been strong interest and bookings Globus' new domestic programme, a collection of New Zealand and Australia tours that were designed from scratch.

These tours would start later this year. The company runs river boat cruises overseas.

''Customers and agents are wanting to secure their preferred river cruise, date and cabin before they sell out. We're seeing a lot of pent up demand because people who were booked to travel in 2020 are now planning to go in 2022,'' she said.

Coach touring would be popular in 2022 for long haul destinations but it was river cruising with Avalon Waterways that was attracting the most inquiries and bookings at this time.

Like others in the travel business Globus has increased flexibility around payments.

Globus has shortened the final payment window for all brands to 45 days, prior to departure. Travellers can also move their trips without penalty if travel is affected by Covid-19 restrictions.

''From our conversations, most people are very keen to travel as soon as they can, initially domestically,'' said Tyrrell.

Travel Agents Association of New Zealand president Brent Thomas said tour operators could impose a range of conditions and more were requiring pre-trip Covid clearances to protect all guests.

In Australia Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has mooted a no jab-no fly rule when the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out more widely.