Returning to travel — research from Audley Travel

- peer to peer recommendations are now far less important for trip research

- booking by speaking to a person is key

- places not previously visited are top of the list for the majority for returning to travel

Bespoke travel operator Audley Travel has conducted research into how people want to return to travel. Below they share responses from three points during 2020 — before the pandemic (February), July and December to see how sentiment and future travel plans have moved on.

Booking travel

Audley’s research saw a shift in the way people intend to research, plan and book their trip, with a small increase in people wanting to speak to an expert to book their trip (this was important¹ to 71 percent in February and rose to 72 percent in December). There was a significant drop in the proportion of people relying on ‘referral’ resources such as review websites (49 percent down to 35 percent), suggestions from friends (47 per cent to 28 percent) and testimonials (24 percent to 17 percent) in the same period.

Audley also saw a continued call for flexible cancellation terms as the year progressed (74 percent cited it as very important² in December compared to 73 percent in July). Financial security remains key to around two thirds of people, with 66 percent citing it as very important in December (64 percent in July).³

Where to travel

As the pandemic continued and increasing numbers of trips were unable to depart, Audley saw a shift in where clients plan to visit on their first trip once restrictions lift. In July, 73 percent said they would travel to somewhere they had not been before, rising to 78 percent by December. A wish to visit somewhere familiar remained constant (16 percent in July and 17 percent in December). Confidence in travel has increased with the proportion saying they aren’t planning to travel in the foreseeable future has more than halved from 11 percent in July to five percent in December.³

Motivations to travel

When asked about their motivations for their next trip, nearly a third of people asked in December said it related to the lack of travel in 2020 (this is made up of 18 percent of total respondents who said to enjoy being able to travel again and 14 percent said to take a postponed trip (planned, not necessarily booked)). Being able to travel again has risen slightly from July (16 percent) and taking a postponed trip remains constant. Pre-pandemic the main reasons were to visit particular sites/places or experiences, cited by 26 percent in February (this fell to 19 percent in December) and to experience different cultures (19 percent in February falling to 12 percent in December).

How to travel

Modes of transport that allow clients to socially distance from others are understandably most popular with 85 percent of respondents saying in December that they are very or somewhat likely⁴ to choose a trip with a private driver and guide. Similarly, 71 percent said they are very or somewhat likely to consider a self-drive itinerary.

Notes to editors

Audley surveyed 1,592 people in February, 2,112 in July and 1,374. in December. The respondents included people who have traveled, booked or inquired about trips with Audley as well as those who had expressed an interest in information from Audley.

1 Respondents were asked if the options were important, useful or not important to them.

2 Respondents were asked if the options were very important, moderately important or not important to them.

3 This question was first asked in July, so figures for February are not available.

4 Respondents were asked if they were very likely, somewhat likely or not likely to choose the options suggested.