BOOKING.COM, in its latest research conducted among 3,000+ accommodation partners in 20 countries, revealed what support is needed to get travel back on its feet.
The survey also looked at what preparations properties worldwide are making to welcome back guests once it is safe for them to travel again.
Refined measures needed for return of travel
71% of the respondents agreed that more measures are still needed in order to help speed up the recovery, while 77% felt there should be more consistent international standards when it comes to travel advice and rules.
Meanwhile, 70% said there should be greater access to pre-travel Covid-19 testing, as they believed testing would continue to be a requisite part of the travel experience. Ensuring travellers’ safety and confidence is also top of the mind for accommodation providers with 52% saying Covid negative testing would help accelerate the industry’s recovery.
Government collaboration
About 74% of the survey’s respondents are of the view that governments have to do more to support the travel industry during the ongoing crisis, although.
Hoteliers have listed what actions they would like to see governments do to help speed up recovery. They include the suspension of goods and services tax (GST) for all travel and tourism services (65%), granting of financial stimulus and subsidies (64%), and establishing international travel corridors (58%).
Vaccines fuel hope of travel recovery
The rollout of vaccine programmes globally has led to many countries opening their borders to fully vaccinated travellers, which in turn led two-thirds of those surveyed (62%) to believe this would lead to an increase in interest for travel in 2021.
Thanks to the roll-out of vaccine programmes globally, travellers are finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel and consumer confidence is rising.
This optimism is reflected in another of Booking.com’s research that revealed the travel hopes and anticipation among people around the world following a year of restrictions.
Preparing for the return of guests
Meanwhile, many hoteliers are using the current down time to give their properties a makeover – 91% of the accommodation providers are making improvements to their properties that included renovating rooms or refreshing facilities. A third (34%) have updated their accommodations’ online presence.
Commenting on the study, Booking.com regional director for South Asia Pacific Nuno Guerreiro said the company “stands with our accommodation partners who have shared what is needed in order to help speed up the industry’s recovery. The sentiment shared by our partners is corroborated by Singapore travellers as well, with 96% saying they believe the travel industry needs to be supported to get back on its feet.”
• Featured image credit: asiandelight/Getty Images
