Despite growing economic concerns, American travelers are sticking with their travel plans, with 6 in 10 planning to take a vacation in the next six months, according to the Winter 2022 issue of “Portrait of American Travelers.” The latest data, compiled by MMGY Travel Intelligence, reveals that economic concerns will influence how and when Americans travel, but not whether.
International travel plans are also holding steady. According to the data, 25% of US adults who plan to travel in the next six months said they would travel abroad, up from 19% in the same period last year and the highest percentage over the previous three years.
Chris Davidson, Executive Vice President of MMGY Travel Intelligence, says, “The US international traveler is typically a more affluent traveler and therefore proportionally less affected by rising costs and inflationary pressures.”
“In addition, the relative strength of the US dollar and the fact that foreign destinations are becoming more open and welcoming support the idea that international travel will be an area of strength for the travel industry economy in 2023,” he added.
Among the four in 10 who plan to avoid traveling in the next six months, the main reasons cited were concern about the high cost of travel (45%) and their financial situation (41%). 25% also say they have little time to travel in the immediate future, a significant increase from 9% who said the same in July.
Online travel agencies are part of the planning process for many travelers. 75% of active leisure travelers say they consult at least one OTA regularly when looking for a trip. The majority affirms that they do it to compare prices and availability: 72%, six points more than in 2021.
At the same time, 70% of travelers have concerns about booking with an OTA, including worries that canceling or rebooking may be more complex than if they had booked directly with the travel service provider (42 %).
While the winter issue of “Portrait of America’s Travelers” did not ask about offline travel agencies, the summer issue finds that 31% of active leisure travelers intend to use a travel advisor in the next few years. Two years, compared to 36% in 2021.
A positive sign for the cruise industry – and cruise sales consultants – is that more than half of active travelers (55%) have indicated an interest in cruising in the next two years. Millennials, families with children, and higher-income people are most attracted to cruising.
Brand loyalty has decreased slightly for many travelers: only 40% consider themselves loyal to a hotel brand (44%), a cruise line (30%), or an airline (45%). Marriott and American Airlines take the cake in the hotel and airline categories, 57% and 54%, respectively.
Source: Dominican Travel Pro