As if life hasn't been hard enough for the past nearly two years, an Ottawa-area travel advisor says she is being 'shamed' online for doing her job.
Liz Bardell, a Senior Travel Consultant with Transat Travel in the Ottawa-area, says the abuse started when she posted in a Wakefield, Quebec Facebook group, trying to resell some space after a group winter booking had some cancellations.
"Anyone else getting seriously travel-shamed?," asked Bardell in the Canadian Travel Professionals Facebook group.
"So far this morning I've been told 'I'm the reason that people can't see their family this Christmas,' that 'I hope I like Dominican hospitals,' and the best 'I'm going to be responsible for thousands of deaths,'" the advisor wrote.
"I'm just trying to survive like anyone else. It's killing me," said Bardell.
Fellow travel professionals expressed their disgust at the comments.
"Yep, travel is a four-letter word again," wrote Cheryl Geraghty Morphew.
"I have no idea where common sense has gone in this world," stated Bonnie MacKie Gundert. "And the stats on how many people contract COVID from travelling versus those who contract COVID from contact in their own community is … very slim."
Lauren Wareham Pham added: "Let them know that it's even been stated by our health officials that Canadians who are travelling and get COVID is 0.17%. People always claim to view everything based on science and data. You clearly have a higher chance of catching and spreading COVID at an NHL game or Costco for crying out loud."
Jan Preece replied to Wareham Pham, stating: "You are 100% correct. The mental health benefits far outweigh the minimal risk."
Wareham Pham says she has experienced similar online bullying. "I've had some jerks who didn't like that I posted an ad for travel on my Facebook page and gave me a $%^& review."
While Canadians are being advised to avoid non-essential travel, there is no ban, and advisors say it should be up to potential travellers to decide whether to go or not, as long as they are informed of the requirements and potential risk.
Toronto-based advisor Ethel Hansen Davey says she hasn't experienced shaming, but is fielding inquiries from travellers.
"I am getting some intelligent questions and just offer the best information to help my clients make the most informed decisions that are right for them."
That's about all a good advisor can do. Oh, there's also the 'delete and block' option to deal with online trolls.
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