A Travel Leaders Network survey of nearly 2,700 frequent travelers found that half are starting to make plans for their next vacation or have already made plans, while the other half say they are dreaming of when they can travel again. Fifty percent of those surveyed said they plan to take their next vacation in 2020.
When asked when they plan to take their next vacation, 18 percent of those surveyed said this summer; 24 percent chose fall; 8 percent plan to travel during the upcoming holiday season; 43 percent opted for 2021 and the remainder said 2022.
Nearly half of those surveyed who said they will travel this year said they plan to fly to their next vacation destination (45 percent), while 25 percent will drive. Under one-fifth (18 percent) said they plan to cruise.
Uncrowded, outdoor and beach experiences topped the list of desired domestic destinations, with National Parks, Florida, Hawaii, Alaska and “anywhere uncrowded” high on the list while traditionally popular sites such as New York and Las Vegas scoring lower.
Europe (38 percent), the Caribbean (34 percent) and Mexico (15 percent) are the top-ranked international destinations of interest.
While respondents did acknowledge concerns about increased risk of transmission while traveling, as well as being quarantined, travelers are still eager for information on travel planning. A majority of those surveyed (nearly 60 percent) want to receive promotional offers and details about supplier “Peace of Mind” policies, which outline the cancellation and refund requirements of the booked hotel, airline, cruise ship or tour operator. The survey found that financial incentives and flexible refund policies are strong motivators. Tips on health and safety are desired by 57 percent.
Travel Leaders travel advisors speaking about their recent bookings expressed that their savvier travelers are excited to travel again soon and are not particularly concerned about COVID-19 (coronavirus), “as they can protect themselves as easily on vacation as they can shopping at home.” Clients, however, have expressed more concern about whether or not a second wave would cause the cancellation of their travel plans for this summer or fall. Others have expressed concern about their employers putting them on a two-week quarantine upon return if they do travel.
The survey was conducted in mid to late May and sent to clients of select Travel Leaders Network agencies in the U.S.
Visit www.travelleadersnetwork.com.
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