I recently contributed to a Tripadvisor research report (Beyond COVID-19: The Road to Recovery for the Travel Industry) that laid out the stages of recovery for our industry, what these entail and what it means for operators and attractions. Now, I want to share some key takeaways with you.
Travelers are eager to get out there and see the world again. As you’ll see in the chart below there’s a strong uptick in travelers looking to plan a trip within the next 30 days. Undoubtedly, travel will look different for the foreseeable future, but as we see early green shoots across markets, we need to prepare for its return.
What does this mean for our industry?
For operators and attractions, it’s a combination of factors. As travelers look towards their next trip, they’ll be planning ahead. This shift in behaviors suggests that your online presence has never been more important. Similarly, with safety top of mind and coming off a spring in lockdown, travelers may prefer to keep their distance from others and opt for smaller group activities. For instance, in the report, we found that 62% of travelers consider private tours most appealing as they look to travel again.
As we move through the stages of recovery and return to travel, we’ll need to pay close attention to travelers’ shifting needs and preferences. Travelers will expect their changing needs to be met and operators that are able to pivot and meet these needs will be rewarded.
Read the full report to learn more about the trends.
