About 77 percent of travellers, the world over wish to travel in next year, with Europe reigning as top destination, says a new survey.
The survey “Rebuild Travel Survey 2021” by Amadeus said that more clarity on restrictions and guidelines would be key to unlocking confidence in travellers. Over a third (35 percent) of travellers said that the current international guidelines on travel were confusing, making them less likely to book business and/or leisure travel.
The survey was mainly held in France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the US.
COUNTRY DIFFERENCES IN NEXT YEAR
Majority of the people in the survey agreed that they wished to travel in 2022, with Russia at the highest end (87 per cent) and the United Kingdom at the lowest (69 per cent). The survey also found that people wanted to travel close to their home country, rather than going far. Spanish (46 per cent) British (40 percent) and German (41 percent) noted that they would only travel to Europe for business in the next year and a higher percentage say the same for leisure (64%, 56% and 62%, respectively). Less than two in five US (37%) and Singaporean (32%) say the same. Singaporean travellers are likely to travel within Asia (excluding the Middle East) for business (45%) or leisure (55%). US travelers surveyed are the most likely to expect to travel within North America for business (39%) or leisure (53%).
GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE NEXT YEAR
In the survey, Millennials are the most likely to travel for business across all regions in the next year. Comparatively, Gen Z are most likely to travel to Asia, North America, Latin America, Australasia, and the Middle East for leisure in the next year, but bucking this trend is the Baby Boomer generation who are the most likely to expect to travel to Europe for leisure in the next year.
IMPACT OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDELINES
The travellers are quite apprehensive about the travel restriction in several of the countries. Less than 2 in 5 travellers surveyed say that the present international restrictions and guidelines are clear, making it easy for them to book and travel for business/ leisure. Thirty five percent noted that the restrictions and guidelines are quite confusing. A further 27 per cent agree they will not be travelling internationally due to the unclear guidance. Russians are by far the most likely to agree that the current international restrictions and guidelines are clear. The UK travellers are least likely to agree with this. When 42 per cent of the surveyed people in Spain agree to this, 38 per cent in France and the UAE and 36 per cent n India, US and Singapore and 345 per cent in Germany agree to this.
Gen X travelers surveyed are the most likely to agree that the present international restrictions and guidelines are clear.
TRAVEL HEALTH DATA
Majority of the travellers (70 per cent) are willing to provide personal information and health data using digital health passports/certificates for international travel. However, travellers are less willing to provide this information for domestic travel. Fewer would be willing to share this for office or business events/conferences.
With 78 per cent agreeing, Spanish travellers are the most likely to be willing to provide personal information and health data using digital health passports/certificates for international travel. This is followed by travellers from Singapore (77 percent), UAE (77 percent), Russia (73 percent), India (72 percent), Germany (70 percent), France (64 percent), UK (58 percent) and the USA (58 percent)
CONCERNS AND CONFIDENCE
Catching COVID-19 while travelling and self-isolation/quarantine are the biggest concerns. Travellers from France ( 7 percent) are most likely not to have any concerns about travelling in light of COVID-19, followed by travellers from the US (6 percent), Germany (4percent), the UK (3 percent), Spain (3 percent), the UAE (3 percent), Russia (3 percent), India (2 percent), and Singapore (1 percent). Travellers from Spain (49 percent), Germany (39 percent), Russia (39 percent) and France (41 percent) are most concerned. Apart from this, For travellers from India (54 percent), the US (43 percent), the UAE (45 percent) and Singapore (54 percent), the top concern is fear of catching COVID-19 while travelling from lack of social distancing and wearing of masks. The UK Travellers main concern is the cost of testing before and after travel.
TECHNOLOGIES
Technology and innovation are seen to be key in building traveller confidence and recovery of the industry.
The top five technologies that would increase confidence to travel in the next 12 months are: apps to store digital health data on devices, different methods of payment, self-scanning luggage and facial recognition technology.
