• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

Travel Market

your source of travel inspiration

  • Travel Marketing
  • About
  • Make a Contribution
  • Contact

Consumer Survey Finds 70 Percent of Travelers Plan to Vacation in 2021

October 16, 2020 By admin Leave a Comment

Research provides data on issues industry needs to address to hasten recovery

An overwhelming majority of US and Canadian travelers (99 percent) are eager to travel again, with 70 percent stating that they plan to take a vacation in 2021, according to a Travel Leaders Group survey of nearly 3,000 frequent travelers. The survey was conducted in September in conjunction with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector.

“These are really strong numbers. The fact that 99 percent of travelers surveyed said they are planning a trip or looking forward to the time they can travel again indicates that as concerns about COVID-19 are addressed, leisure travelers will lead the recovery,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Group.

In the survey, 23 percent of respondents said they plan to travel by the end of 2020, 70 percent said they will travel in 2021 with just 18 percent saying they will resume traveling in 2022.

“Consumer uncertainty about the risk of exposure or concerns about being quarantined is a core problem,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO. “With rapid testing to replace quarantine requirements, enhanced contact tracing and industry-wide standards by sector that can be clearly communicated to the public, we can help alleviate many of those concerns.”

The willingness of Americans to travel can be seen in the slow, but steady, increase in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) daily screening numbers, which fell below 90,000 a day in April and are now approaching 1 million a day at peak periods. In 2019, TSA daily traveler counts averaged between 2.3 and 2.7 million passengers a day.

More than half of travelers surveyed say they are concerned about the risk of being infected when traveling on a plane or cruise ship, getting stuck while away from home or being quarantined on a cruise ship or at a hotel. A lesser number named concerns about them or a family member contracting the virus while traveling, worries about getting a refund if the trip is cancelled, and concerns about family members with higher risk health conditions.

A majority of survey respondents said the following health and safety initiatives at airports, aboard aircraft and at resorts will make a big difference in their decision to travel in the future: mandatory masks, social distancing, enhanced cleaning, temperature checks and access to sanitizing gel. For resorts, contact-free services and customizable room cleaning were also cited.

“Our industry needs to do more to inform potential travelers about all of the health and safety protocols that have been implemented across the industry and continue to standardize those protocols to restore consumer confidence in travel,” said Lovell. “Airlines, airports and cruise lines have made major strides in the health and hygiene measures they have taken in close consultation with the world’s leading medical experts. We need to share that story with the traveling public.”

Nearly 60 percent of respondents said the requirement of a negative PCR test prior to arrival in a destination would make no difference or would be viewed as a positive, while about 40 percent said such a requirement would be a deterrent. Those concerns can be addressed with rapid testing, Lovell said. “We believe the widespread availability of rapid testing will result in greater acceptance of pre-trip testing and encourage more people to travel,” he stated.

Modes of Travel & Destinations

Most of those surveyed who said they plan to take a vacation said they will fly to their next vacation destination (47 percent), 21 percent will drive, 17 percent said they plan to take an ocean cruise, with 5 percent opting for a river cruise.

“We continue to see strong interest in domestic travel, beach destinations and less crowded destinations in both the US and Canada, while the popularity of Europe across the board is encouraging,” said Stephen McGillivray, Chief Marketing Officer for Travel Leaders Group.

Europe (38 percent), the Caribbean (34 percent) and Mexico (15 percent) are the top-ranked international destinations of interest, followed by Canada (for US travelers), Central and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia.

For US travelers, uncrowded, outdoor and beach experiences topped the list of desired domestic destinations, with National Parks, Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, California and “anywhere uncrowded” high on the list while traditionally popular sites, such as New York and Nevada, scored lower.

For Canadians, British Columbia, Atlantic Canada, Alberta, Ontario, “anywhere uncrowded” and National Parks led the list.

The survey results are validated by Travel Leaders Group’s online inquiries. Online leads declined in late March, reaching a low point on April 12 then peaking on June 14. Following a second outbreak of COVID-19 in some areas, leads dropped again and are now on the upswing, up 88 percent from the low in April, McGillivray said.

Close-in booking windows are a trend among online shoppers. The majority of consumers reaching out online want to travel by the year’s end 2020, followed by January/February 2021, spring and summer. Milestone birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons are popular reasons to travel. Camper vans and home and villa rentals are in high demand.

Many come seeking the expert advice of a travel advisor. Here’s a sampling of the inquiries:

“Where can I go without self-quarantine?”
“I need to get out of here, where can I go?”
“I’ve never used a travel agent before…”
“I NEED a travel agent.”
“I am an avid cruiser always booked direct but need a travel agent to help me book them now.”
“Booking with a travel advisor is the best possible strategy to navigate the new world of travel,” McGillivray said. “They can provide all the facts you need to know about destinations, requirements, how to protect your purchase, and best of all, they provide peace of mind.”

About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group, a division of Internova Travel Group, encompasses the franchise and consortia operations, host agency business and brands predominantly focused on leisure, cruise and tour. This includes Travel Leaders Network, Nexion Travel Group, Barrhead Travel, Roadtrips, Travel Leaders Vacation Center, CruCon Cruise Outlet and Cruise Specialists. Travel Leaders Network is North America’s largest travel network with over 5,500 agency locations.

SOURCE Travel Leaders Group
http://www.travelleaders.com

Filed Under: Travel News

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Steady recovery of tourism in Thailand
  • Skymark Airlines Announces Intent to Acquire Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes
  • A delegation of tourism industry players from Rwanda is participating at the World Travel Market in London
  • Global hotel tech leader SiteMinder expands hotel commerce platform with acquisition of GuestJoy
  • Why Are Cruises So Popular?
  • VIKING MARKS FLOAT OUT OF NEWEST OCEAN SHIP
  • Denver Tourism Surges to 31M+ Visitors in 2021
  • A&K Travel Group Ltd. Acquires Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony
  • The new travel startup that wants to plan trips around workcations
  • Make money and travel the world

Travel Magazine

BBB Scam Alert: Watch out for airfare scams when booking your next trip
Egypt promoting recent archaeological finds to attract more tourists to the country
It was 1972 when Munich opened up one of Europe’s first pedestrian-only zones
If you’re traveling abroad and don’t speak the local language
On her travels she kept copious diaries
Literary tourism has become a mass pursuit
Tel Aviv Beach
Michelin has added 12 eateries to its value-oriented Bib Gourmand list for Singapore
Peru’s Beautiful Attractions Are Safe and Ready for International Travelers
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design opens in Oslo on 11 June 2022

Media Partners

  • Travel Marketing
  • Virtual Travel Guide
10 Things to Do Before Leaving for Vacation
Things to do in Madrid
First-of-its-Kind New Rides to Open in Every SeaWorld Park in 2023 Including the World’s First Surf Coaster, the Longest and Fastest Straddle Coaster, and the World’s First Launched Flume Coaster
Trip.com shows how transatlantic travel has taken off
How to overcome a fear of flying
Costa Toscana on the Middle East Cruise
How to travel light, with less luggage
Adventures by Disney to Debut Its First-Ever Adriatic Sea Expedition Cruise in 2024
The rise of street-haunting tourism
How online travel platforms help to distribute tourism away from oversaturated hotspots
The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris is on track to reopen in 2024
How to travel the world, but stay in one place: exotic and serene destinations
Harbour House, Bristol
Best UK activity holidays and summer camps for teenagers
View of Angers and the Maine river
The Dyrt Announces the 2022 Best Places To Camp: Top 10 in the U.S.
Piles of lost bags in London, Paris and Toronto
Alternative guide to Mallorca
A local’s guide to Madrid
Labyrinth pavement at Chartres Cathedral, France

Copyright © 2015 TravelMarket.org

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT