DREAM TRIP CANCELED: Coronavirus outbreak impacts travelers

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) — It’s been a scramble. Trips are getting cancelled postpone and abandoned after President Donald Trump issued a travel ban to Europe Wednesday night amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Many across the country — and the globe — are forced to reroute or question their travel plans, some adventurers are continuing business as usual.

Amid the coronavirus chaos — adventure awaits for Zach Bouska and Anna Pence-Bouska.

“We’re just not gonna let anything get in our way,” Zach said.

It’s a trip they’ve been saving, dreaming and planning for since the pair got married in Sept. of last year.

“We’re actually renting a car and driving around the entire country and northern Ireland,” Zach said. “Doing it all.”

A honeymoon they’d never forget.

“Whether it be the flu or the cold or, you know, the coronavirus now, just buck up and do it,” Zach said with a smile.

Thursday afternoon Zach and Anna were smoothing over last minute details with their travel agent at Bursch Travel in Rochester. The pair was elated to be leaving the country next week, bubbling with excitement over the attractions they hoped to visit in their time abroad. But, just minutes after KTTC spoke with the happy couple, the phone rang.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Bursh Travel agent Misty Dobler said. “I can’t believe that this is really happening, but at the same time the world…its a trickle down affect.”

The trip was canceled.

“It stinks, I mean, its something that we’ve been looking for a really long time, a special vacation that everyone looks forward to,” Zach said. “There’s nothing you can do to prepare for this. It’s one of those real world things that happens.”

“Absolutely devastating for them, and for me as their agent,” Dobler said. “It felt like I got socked in the gut.”

The travel company decided to ban into Ireland for the next two weeks.

“Nobody can predict something like this,” Zach said.

In her 30 years of assisting people like Zach and Anna, Dobler hasn’t seen anything like it.

“This is unprecedented. I mean there was 9/11 and there weren’t a lot of people traveling afterwards but nothing like this,” Dobler said. “It changes daily…Just be prepared for whatever is coming down the pike. Obviously the President spoke last night, travel to Europe is not happening. It could go further than that. Just be prepared for anything.”

As for the Bouskas?

“[Need to] unschedule my PTO,” Zach said with a laugh.

It’ll just take a little longer, to get to their destination.

“Through thick and thin we’re in it together,” Zach said. “We’ll get there eventually.”