The results of a new travel survey should make everyone in the travel industry - and every travel advisor - feel a little bit more optimistic today.
The American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends report surveyed leisure travellers in Canada, the U.S., U.K., Australia, Mexico, Japan and India.
The survey was conducted just before the war in Ukraine broke out, undoubtedly affecting some travel plans and intentions. Still, many of the findings still ring true - and timely for travel advisors ramping up marketing and rebuilding their businesses.
Here are some key findings that should put a smile on your face and new ‘spring’ in your step.
Dream On
Travellers want to seize the moment now. Bucket list travel tops the list of trends revealed in the survey.
86 per cent of respondents report a willingness to spend more on travel this year than in the past. Others indicate they’ll use points to upgrade their travel experiences.
Themes for dream trips include attending festivals, cultural and sporting events.
Family Groups
Also top of mind for travellers in 2022 is family. 79 per cent report they are “most looking forward to travelling wth family” this year.
“Not surprisingly, this is shaping up to be a big year for family travel, and all these things come together, but availability of vaccines for younger people, and families are just relishing the opportunity to travel together,” said president of global travel and lifestyle services at American Express, Audrey Hendley.
Three-quarters of the respondents say they plan to travel with family more this year than last year. And a whopping 70 per cent of those surveyed with children say: they plan to take their kids on trips abroad this year for the first time since the pandemic.
Mind Your Trip
Another significant trend the survey uncovered was the desire not to just do the same old, same old when it comes to travel.
Travellers want their trips to be meaningful, with 81 per cent saying they want their travel dollars helping the local community, and to be able to immerse themselves in local culture.
Many have learned from the pandemic not to take travel for granted. 79 per cent say they have realized travel may not always be possible, so they want to put more thought, care, and planning into booking future travel.
Timing is Everything
Longer trips, and shorter planning timelines. With the evolution of remote work, over half of travellers surveyed - 55 per cent - said they are planning on taking longer trips.
But they intend to be more spontaneous. 62 per cent say they’d book a last minute trip in 2022, only two weeks in advance of travel.
No Regrets
Travellers may have learned to embrace uncertainty. Three-quarters of respondents reveal they’re willing to book a long-awaited trip now even if they have to cancel or change it later.
“The world is ready to travel,” Hendley said, “People know it’s uncertain, and they’re willing to go for it, because there’s a lot of flexibility now.”
Opting into Travel Advisors
53 per cent of travellers surveyed say they are interested in using a travel agent to help plan an upcoming trip.
A number of previous surveys by different organizations have noted that the value of a travel advisor has been highlighted by pandemic travel challenges, and if so, that new awareness seems to be holding even as the pandemic is reaching its end phase.
