The unfolding situation has left travel agents making adjustments to existing international bookings up to five times as more cases of the virus emerge across the globe and holiday operators respond with amendments to itineraries.

"We are in an hour-by-hour situation. Every single trip we have booked is different and we have to deal with each one on a case-by-case basis," italk Travel Maitland manager Jackie Wright said.

"We are having to revisit files that we would be finished with and we're doing that 2,3, 4 or 5 times as the situation changes.

"Every supplier and every airline is different and has a different policy. Some companies are changing their policies in terms of changing part of the itinerary or cancelling part of it - or all of it, as time goes on and more cases are reported."

Travel agents are relying on updates from Smart Traveller and the World Health Organisation to accurately brief their clients.

Most people with upcoming overseas holidays are postponing their trip. A small percentage, who weren't travelling to China or Iran, are still determined to go.

Those with travel plans in China or Iran have been forced to cancel their holiday or choose another part of the world after a travel ban was put in place.

Smart Traveller has advised people planning to visit South Korea to reconsider, while those with plans in Japan, Italy and Mongolia have been urged to exercise a high level of caution.

"Some people are nervous about the virus, others are happy to change their dates and go later in the year or next year, and others are happy to change places - there are plenty of destinations that don't have travel warnings," Ms Wright said.

"We had clients planning to travel to northern Italy and they've decided to visit southern Italy instead."

The influx in booking changes began when the travel ban was placed on China earlier this year.

The hype, and fear, surrounding the virus has seen new inquiries for overseas bookings plummet. But, that could be a bonus for the domestic tourism industry.

"We're not getting inquiries for Asia or Italy at the moment, but there are people who are still happy to travel elsewhere," Ms Wright said.

"There are plenty of places to go that don't have any travel warnings. I think it will benefit our Australian tourism market as people are still happy to travel domestically, which would be a good thing after the bushfires."

Have you postponed your overseas trip? Or are you still going? Tell us your story at lowerhunter@austcommunitymedia.com.au