A NEW report from TripAdvisor identifies shifting traveller trends and reveals how consumers are planning to travel in 2021, as well as the impact of the pandemic on their trip planning habits.
Confidence among consumers to travel abroad in 2021, particularly in the second half, is increasing revealed “The Year of the Travel Rebound: 5 Traveller Trends to Watch Out for in 2021”.
According to the report, globally the majority of hotel clicks on Tripadvisor are already shifting to international destinations for trips taking place from May 2021, as opposed to domestic destinations that dominated hotel clicks throughout 2020.
Data in the report was obtained from analysis of traveller sentiment across six major markets – US, UK, Australia, Italy, Japan and Singapore.
Here are the five key trends:
1. Travellers are planning to travel abroad in 2H2021
- Nearly half (47%) of travellers surveyed globally say they are planning to travel internationally in 2021, including 61% of Singapore travellers
- One in 10 (11%) of Singaporean respondents have already booked an international trip for 2021
2. Vaccinations will be a game-changer for traveller confidence
The report states that the widespread rollout of a vaccine will have a major influence on where leisure travellers are prepared to go.
- Globally, more than three quarters (77%) of travellers surveyed say they will be more likely to travel internationally if they receive the vaccine, rising to 86% for travel domestically. In Singapore, 87% of travellers surveyed say they are more likely to travel domestically if they receive the vaccine, and 90% are more likely to travel internationally.
- More than a quarter (26%) of respondents globally say that they would only travel to destinations that required visitors to be vaccinated before travel, with Australian (32%) and US (30%) travellers the most likely to expect destinations to adopt this safety measure. In Singapore, 26% of respondents say they will only travel to destinations that require a pre-travel vaccination in 2021.
3. Domestic vacations remain high on travellers’ wishlist for 2021
- In the first week of January nearly 70% of hotel clickers on Tripadvisor were booking future domestic trips, while May through August are still proving to be the most popular months for domestic vacations.
- Globally, three quarters (74%) of travellers surveyed plan to take at least one overnight domestic leisure trip in 2021, with 60% of travellers surveyed in Singapore planning a domestic trip this year.
- 73% of Singaporean travellers planning a 2021 domestic vacation have yet to book it, so there is an opportunity for businesses in the city-state to capture that demand.
4. The joy of vacation planning will be stronger than ever
- Three quarters (74%) of travellers surveyed globally say they will spend more time choosing a destination this year, including just over 79% of travellers in Singapore
- 77% of travellers in Singapore will spend more time reading reviews, 76% selecting accommodation and 78% finding things to do.
5. Consumers can’t wait to dine out again, but takeout will endure
- As in-person dining was restricted in many countries throughout 2020 the demand for takeout and delivery services soared. Although in-person dining rebounds this year it will not see a decline in takeout and delivery demand.
- Nearly half (47%) of respondents globally say they plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often in 2021 than they did in 2020, and a quarter of respondents (27%) say they plan to order more takeout meals this year.
- In Singapore, 48% of respondents plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often this year, and 30% plan to order more takeout.
Commenting on the report TripAdvisor’s senior research analyst Shibani Walia said: “Despite the fact that many countries around the world are still grappling with high infection rates of Covid-19 many travellers are feeling optimistic that they will be able to vacation abroad this year, particularly coinciding with the rollout of a vaccine.
“Consumer appetite for travel is as strong as it has been since the start of the pandemic and, as our data shows, many people are already actively planning their next big trip – even for trips more than four months out. For destinations, brands and tourism operators it is so important that they act now to attract this early booking demand, or else they risk missing out to the competition.”
Read the full report here.
• Featured image credit: ArtMassa/Getty Images
