A new study of international travellers from American Express shows the world is ready to shake off the pandemic and hit the road again.
The study, which looked at travellers from Canada, the U.S., Australia, Japan, the U.K, Mexico and India, found that 74% of respondents agree they are willing to book a trip for 2022 even if they might have to cancel or modify it later. That’s up sharply from 56% last year.
The study also found that spending on travel could outpace pre-pandemic levels. Eighty six per cent of consumers expect to spend more or the same on travel in 2022 compared to a typical pre-pandemic year.
The polling for the study was conducted from Feb. 3 to Feb. 11, 2022. The polling company contacted 3,000 travellers who have a household income of at least $70K, and defined as adults who typically travel by air at least once a year.
Graphic courtesy of American Express.
Here are some other key findings:
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62% of respondents plan on taking two to four trips in 2022, while 76% of respondents agree they plan to travel more with family in 2022 than they did in 2021.
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Tourists are seeking out brands that prioritize supporting local communities: 81% of respondents want to visit destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture and want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community.
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Dream destinations are becoming a reality: 55% of respondents want to book a once-in-a-lifetime vacation this year; especially Millennials (67%) and Gen Z (65%).
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Family vacations are back: 76% of parents agree they plan to travel more with family in 2022 than they did in 2021.
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People are traveling to celebrate important life events with the people they love: Over half (52%) of respondents stated they are interested in traveling for personal gatherings such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, or holidays.
Eighty per cent if respondents agree that in 2022 they want to be more thoughtful about the types of trips that they take and who they take them with, especially Millennials (83%). Gen Zers (70%) and Millennials (74%) agree that they have been reflecting on the impact of their travel decisions more than ever before vs. 52% of Boomers.
As well, Gen Zers (75%) and Millennials (78%) agree that they are interested in learning about how eco-friendly hotels are positively impacting the local community vs. 57% of Boomers.
