Travel Technology Association (TTA) released (13-Apr-2021) data from a survey of US residents on travel preferences in 2021. TTA stated the data overwhelmingly reveals travellers value a wide array of travel options that facilitate easy planning and booking and prioritise safety as travel is expected to boom in 2021. Key findings include:
- Pent-up demand for travel:
- 80% of respondents said they are likely to travel in 2021;
- 76% of consumers are likely to travel once they receive the vaccine;
- 57% of consumers are likely to attend a live event like a concert or sporting event in 2021 if open and available;
- 74% of consumers are likely to visit an outdoor attraction, such as a theme park or a national/state park in 2021;
- The value of choice for consumers: 62% of travellers plan on using an online travel agency or metasearch platform to search and book travel;
- Enthusiasm for short term rentals:
- Nearly 75% of consumers who are very likely to travel in 2021 believe short term rentals provide a valuable alternative to other lodging options when considering travel priorities like safety precautions;
- A third of travellers plan on staying at a short term rental in 2021;
- Overwhelming popularity of in-state travel:
- 73% of consumers plan on travelling in-state during 2021;
- Over 72% of consumers say they would be more likely to travel if the government provided a travel tax credit for use in 2021 and 2022;
- 87% of respondents plan on driving to their destination this year and over 65% of travellers plan to drive up to six hours, making in-state and bordering state travel the go-to for much of post-pandemic travel. [more - original PR]