How one agent is helping new clients overcome their travel fears

Growing impact of anxiety

Emma thinks holiday anxiety is becoming more prevalent, or perhaps people are just more willing to share their worries about travelling.

“We talk about mental health a lot more freely these days – it’s more acceptable to admit you’re feeling anxious and clients will share those feelings with me. Covid had a big impact on nervousness. I do think some people are more wary now of travelling.”

“We believe that addressing these concerns head-on can enhance overall travel experiences and contribute to a more relaxed and enjoyable journey.”

The feedback after the first workshop was really positive, says Emma, and she’s confident that bookings will come given time. “I’ve been working with the lady who was very nervous about planning, she’s got to know me now, and we’ve been going through every stage of the process.”

She adds: “As a homeworker, you tend to do a bit more hand holding anyway, but a lot of people don’t understand how much we do, so it’s nice to get close to these people and explain how I can help.”

Esther agreed, remarking: "We are thrilled with the positive response from participants. Our collaboration was born out of a shared commitment to making travel a stress-free and enjoyable experience for everyone."

Both hope their partnership can flourish, offering more help and support to nervous travellers. They plan to introduce in-person sessions as well as run the workshops online, but Emma says they will keep the groups small: “We want to be able to make the workshops quite personal and be able to discuss people’s individual triggers, so they have something to take away – that customisation is really important.”