We were all warned this summer that “no travel is risk-free” with last-minute quarantine restrictions imposed on some of our favourite holiday destinations, but it appears we aren’t deterred and are already looking ahead.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty of Covid-19 and it’s impact on our daily lives, it appears even in a pandemic we are still in need of a break. In a recent study carried out by Jules Verne, they found that 36% of 3,300 customers responded saying they think they will be travelling again by spring, and 5% said they intend to do more travelling post-lockdown.
Why do we need a break?
We all know how great it is to wake up to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, with sunlight streaming through the windows, the gentle hum of the air conditioning providing a bit of white noise, but there are both mental and physical reasons why we all need a holiday. When we go on holiday our stress levels reduce making us feel calmer, happier, and ultimately healthier. Our sense of purpose is restored, and we have a renewed sense of who we are following a holiday – and after six months in some sort of lockdown, there really is no better antidote.
Where are people planning on travelling to?
It’s no surprise that countries in Europe are still the top of Brit’s travel wish-list, with nearly half of respondents planning to travel there over the next 18 months. Italy continues to be the top destination for Brits looking to travel abroad, followed by France, Greece, and Spain.
Unsurprisingly people are less keen on travelling to The Americas, as Covid-19 continues to spread like an uncontrolled wildfire, only 17% said they would be happy to travel there.
How confident are people in travelling post-pandemic?
Whilst the long-term impact of the pandemic on our home lives is still unknown, it appears we’re already changing our attitudes to travel. The survey results suggest we are shifting our focus away from the destination itself and the experiences we can have there, to factors that concern our health and well-being. Jules Verne found that the top three factors that are most important when considering our next trip are the reputation of the company, the safety, and the hygiene of the destination being visited.
Whilst we may feel confident in travelling again, people are wanting reassurance that their health and safety is being considered far more. This could have devastating impact on smaller independent companies who have not built up the brand recognition compared with larger chains. Companies like Airbnb who were seeing a boom pre-Covid, are having to rethink their whole business model.
What type of holidays are people booking?
In the last decade, there has been a remarkable number of solo travellers, with many tour operators promoting solo trips. And post-pandemic, solo travel continues to be a popular option with over a quarter of people planning a solo trip in the next 18 months.
It also appears we are booking more group holidays, with escorted tours to Portugal, and other European countries still top of the agenda. This could be that because group numbers are small, you effectively create a travel bubble with your fellow tourists, and time spent on public transport is almost non-existent.
