The caution follows the Ebola outbreak in parts of East and Central Africa, which has prompted travellers to take a closer look at destination risks, healthcare infrastructure and travel insurance before committing to holiday plans.
Among corporate travellers, MICE groups, and families planning leisure extensions around business trips, hesitation is already evident in booking behaviour, according to Rishabh Agarwal, co-founder and COO of corporate travel-tech startup Ziptrrip.
ET Bureau‘outbreak influencing behaviour less through actual risk, more through perception’
“Since the outbreak gained international attention in May, we have observed a 15-20% decline in new enquiries for East and Central Africa itineraries and an 8-12% increase in postponement or rebooking requests for affected regions,” Agarwal said. Cancellation levels remain relatively limited at 3-5%, with most travellers choosing to defer rather than cancel outright.
The impact is far from uniform. According to experts, Uganda and parts of Central Africa have borne the brunt of traveller anxiety, while Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania are witnessing moderate concern because of perceived regional proximity. South Africa, Mauritius, Morocco and Egypt have remained largely resilient.
The outbreak is influencing behaviour less through actual risk and more through perception, executives said. Dev Karvat, founder and chief executive of travel protection provider Asego, said traveller sentiment began shifting after the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May, but behavioural changes became more visible once media coverage intensified.
“Traveller decisions are currently being shaped by a combination of health concerns, government advisories, media coverage and uncertainty around access to medical support during emergencies,” Karvat said. Asego’s data shows policy purchases rising 56% among the 0-18 age group and more than 24% among travellers aged 19-30.
Travel insurance enquiries have surged, with Ziptrrip reporting a 25-30% increase in requests for travel protection and medical assistance coverage, while flexible cancellation and rebooking requests are up around 20%.