As national vaccinations go up, and Covid-19 cases go down, people are finding hope and comfort in thinking about, and even planning future trips. This is according to a new American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report that found that respondents note planning travel makes them feel excited (63%), hopeful (53%) and happy (53%), showing how people really feel about travel post Covid-19.
Some additional key findings from the report include:
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87% of respondents agree that having a trip planned in the future gives them something to look forward to
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47% of respondents indicate wellness and mental health a top motivator for traveling this year
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78% of respondents indicate wanting to travel in 2021 to relieve stress from 2020
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Looking to unwind, 64% of respondents say they would be willing to give up social media for a month to go on vacation
Travelers are already thinking ahead to how they’ll book and pay for future trips, according to the report. With the increase in flexible booking options, respondents are ready to book now, with 56% of respondents indicating that they miss traveling so much that they are willing to book a trip even if they might have to cancel it in the future.
Sixty-one percent of survey respondents plan to spend more than they normally would on a trip in 2021 since they could not travel in 2020. Additionally, sixty-three percent of respondents say they are saving their credit card points so they can go on a vacation once they feel comfortable traveling, and one in three respondents say they will likely use more travel credits or points to pay for all or part of a trip in 2021 than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sixty-four percent of solo traveler respondents agree that they want to take a foodie vacation and 62% of all respondents say that eating is the top activity they are interested in doing while traveling.
In the report, flexible and remote work policies combined with unique incentives from hotels, like beach workstations and discounts on extended stays, have influenced the rise of the digital nomad – someone who lives and works while traveling the globe. 54% of respondents said that the freedom and flexibility of being able to live and work while traveling the globe is more appealing now than it was prior to the pandemic.
The pandemic has changed peoples’ perception of luxury travel with personalized experiences (82%), high cleanliness standards (81%) and privacy (79%) being the most desirable luxury amenities among respondents. In fact, 80% indicate they are willing to travel to destinations during the offseason so that it’s less crowded.
For more data and statistics, check out the full report here.
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.