OVERSEAS holidays are being cancelled by some Central West residents while others are still choosing to go away amid coronavirus fears, travel agents say.
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The spread of COVID-19 is having a global impact with the World Health Organisation declaring the virus a pandemic overnight on Wednesday.
In NSW, 77 people have contracted the virus while COVID-19 clinics are being set up in every local health district.
READ MORE: Cash and tax breaks for virus-hit economy
Travellers are being affected, with some countries in lockdown and others barring tourists in an effort to control spread of the virus.
While Travel Managers in Parkes declined to comment on the situation, Helloworld Travel, which have agencies in Forbes, Cowra, Cootamundra and other parts of the Central West, said times were tough.
In a statement issued to the Australian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Helloworld said coronavirus had resulted in a "declining forward international travel demand".
A pandemic is an epidemic on a far greater geographic scale that affects a much larger number of people.
"Helloworld is taking decisive action to reduce the adverse outcomes of coronavirus on travel demand, including increasing its domestic leisure offerings," it said.
Chief executive officer Andrew Burnes said during the past fortnight: "We've seen a steady decline in bookings in some parts of our business, particularly cruise, inbound to Australia, wholesale to Asia and Europe and in corporate international travel".
"At the same time we've seen cancellations increase in these areas and we anticipate lower demand to continue," he said.
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Helloworld said it was taking decisive action including upper management taking pay cuts of up to 30 per cent and staff encouraged to take leave.
"Who knows how long this will go on but it will eventually get better and the world will recover and we want to ensure we are well positioned when that happens to meet the leisure and corporate travel demands of our customers," Mr Burnes said.
In Bathurst, Panorama Cruise and Travel director Caroline Sage said some corporate travellers had cancelled their domestic trips due to fear of coronavirus.
"Older people with lung conditions are the ones who are postponing international travel," she said.
Ms Sage said conditions and travel restrictions are changing quickly.
"We're doing our best to help our clients," she said.
We Know Travel owner Kerin Stonestreet said while she has had no domestic cancellations, her Dubbo and Orange agencies have had 25 major international trips cancelled by clients during the past week.
"They just don't want to go to airports and be with a lot of other people," she said. "A few have cancelled completely, while others have postponed.
"Last week it just exploded ... people are nervous."
Ms Stonestreet said it was an extremely difficult time for travellers and the industry.
"There's been a major downturn on air travel and Asia is the main focus for capacity cuts by airlines," she said.
In her 23 years of working in the travel industry, Ms Stonestreet said she cannot remember a time that has been so difficult for workers and the travelling public.
"I thought the GFC [global financial crisis] was a tough one to get through, but we came through that and then we've got this drought and then we got a bit of rain and then this [coronavirus] hit," she said.
Smartraveller's advice
"Many countries are now reporting cases, many are introducing new entry restrictions. These are changing often and quickly," the Smartraveller website states.
"Disruptions to cruise ship itineraries due to COVID-19 can have significant consequences for Australian travellers.
"We advise you to reconsider taking an overseas cruise at this time - particularly if you have underlying health concerns."
Stay up-to-date with Smartraveller's latest travel information here.
Does travel insurance cover you for coronavirus?
Not all travel insurance companies are the same when it comes to travellers cancelling or postponing their trips due to coronavirus, Ms Sage said
"Insurance doesn't cover if you choose to postpone or cancel, but they'll cover you if you become ill while overseas, but that's just with Cover-More," she said.
"There's also no cover for additional accommodation of for changing of airfares."
While Ms Stonestreet said travel insurance doesn't cover people who get sick due to an epidemic or pandemic.
"What it means is if you go to New Zealand and pick up coronavirus you have no cover for medical [treatment] to do with coronavirus," she said.