Tour Operators Say Boston Travelers Are Not Deterred

Tour operators report few, if any, cancellations from individual or group travelers from the U.S. or other countries.

"There has been no issue with cancellations," said Matt Grayson, executive director of Receptive Services Association of America, a trade group that brings together tour operators and travel suppliers.

Grayson's comments were echoed by other inbound operators. Los Angeles-based ATI had a number of individual travelers in Boston on the day of the marathon.

"None were injured. All were accounted for and we communicated with all of them," said Noel Irwin Hentschel, co-founder, chairman and CEO.

"We immediately activated our crisis plan, which has been in place since 1977. It was set up to enable our international tour operators overseas to communicate on a 24/7 basis with us on behalf of their clients," Hentschel said. "Safety and security is a priority for ATI. Our international tour operators need to know that when they send their visitors to the U.S. that they are in good hands."

While TravCorp/Destination America had no cancellations or indications of possible cancellations in the immediate aftermath of the bomb attacks, company president Richard Launder cautioned that "it is still early."

"People will want to know much more as they assess the situation and put it into context," he said.

TravCorp had no groups or individuals in Boston on the day of the marathon. Two groups are scheduled to visit Boston at the end of April. Desiree Blum, CEO of Las Vegas-based Escalante International Group, said, "No cancellations, just many well-wishes, messages of hope and new reservations pouring in."

Boston continues to bounce back as more streets in the Back Bay area, site of the bomb blasts on April 15, have reopened. The USS Constitution reopened to the public on Thursday.

Only two hotels, the Lenox and the Charlesmark with a total of 225 rooms, remain closed. The JFK Library is closed until further notice due to a fire on April 15, an incident not related to the bomb blasts.

Source: Travel Weekly