Coronavirus is affecting the travel plans of many Illawarra residents.
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Overseas bookings are slowing down and some people are cancelling flights. But others feel quieter destinations make it a good time to travel.
Ourworld Travel's Hadijah Talib just returned from Singapore describing it as quiet and clean.
Visitation and hotel occupancy is down but all the locals were out shopping, dining out and attending events.
Which is similar to what Shaun Prince experienced in Japan.
He had such a good experience in late February he is planning his next overseas trip and will only rule out countries that have restricted travel such as Italy.
Bur fear of the unknown is preventing many from making similar plans.
"Japan is probably the cleanest country I have ever visited. I was there for three weeks and didn't even see a piece of paper on the road.
"I saw them cleaning the hand rail in a shopping centre and asked someone if it was because of coronavirus. They said no we always do this".
Mr Prince said it was very orderly and it was only when he got back to Australia that he heard about things like toilet paper shortages.
"From what I have seen there is more reaction her than anywhere," he said.
"I was in Hong Kong during the bird flu in 2003 and SARS in 2005 and I remember that. And this hasn't put me off travel at all. If there is a cheap air fare going to the US before the spring snow melts I wouldn't mind going".
Lee Sullivan, of Lee & Me, won't stop attending events such as Dragons' home games.
He said while many are talking about it the popular Crown Street eatery was unaffected by coronavirus.
"It won't stop me going to a rugby league game or anything like that," Mr Sullivan said.
Mr Prince is the same.
He said he has faith that unless the community is told otherwise, it will be safe.
He said if he was older and had a respiratory illness or other health issue he might be more careful and can understand others taking precautions.
Mitchell Burne said he was thinking about travelling to South Africa but decided not to book when new about coronavirus hit the media.
Jackie Cavallaro is still planning an Australian holiday.
She said coronavirus is not causing her to change her lifestyle. She is approaching every day as normal. It is just the shortage of products like toilet paper that is causing an inconvenience.
"I am not really changing anything. I haven't even bought extra toilet paper," she said.
"I will probably travel interstate this year. I will wait until a little closer to the to book rather than do it now. That is probably about it.
"I have travelled overseas in the past and the only thing that would stop me doing that now is the possibility of getting stuck somewhere. It is a shame beautiful Italy has been shut down".
At Ourworld Travel one customer who just came back from a cruise has just booked three more.
But others are reluctant to lock in a holiday until the full impact of coronavirus becomes clearer.
Ms Talib said the long term impact on the business and staff is still unclear.
She thinks the impact of coronavirus has already been worse than SARS and other global events.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
