Hope for late summer

Travel magazine Goodbye launched a large-scale survey to gain an insight into people’s travel behaviour in the wake of Covid-19. Some 2500 travellers completed the survey, resulting in a number of interesting insights. The survey specifically enquired after the expectations and complaints of Belgian travellers.

Among others the survey showed that just 8% of travellers are considering cancelling their annual holiday due to fear and uncertainty (on site).

Those who have booked a holiday effectively want to go on holiday (postponed)

• 44% of respondents who have booked a holiday want to proceed as planned.
• 26% of respondents who have booked a holiday would prefer to postpone to a later date this or next year.
• The wish to go ahead as planned is stronger among under-55s (56%) than in the over-55 segment (34%).

Those who would like to keep their travel plans or postpone their trip till later this year are mainly optimistic. They are convinced the virus will be under control by the end of summer and in the second half of the year, and that ‘normal life’ will resume. Moreover, the answers also make it clear to what extent travelling once or several times a year has become a matter of course. It may seem like a self-evident habit but it is still an exceptional experience that we look forward to a long time in advance. That is why not being able to go on holiday is a bitter disappointment to so many.

Big hopes of vacationing options in the autumn

Before the corona outbreak the summer holidays were obviously the most popular time to travel, all the more so for the under-55 segment: 19% of them were scheduled to leave on holiday in July, as opposed to just 9% in the 55+ segment. The main focus for them was situated around May and September, with around 15% each.

Following the corona outbreak there’s been an overall shift to the autumn, with September as the most popular month by far: 20% are now looking to leave in September.

Only minimal shifts in destinations

There’s little concern among travellers in terms of the destination so there are minimal shifts to report here. The ‘biggest’ change is a 3% drop in trips to Italy and Spain. Consequently, the loss for certain destinations is due mainly to the 11% of travellers who prefer to vacation in their own country and not because travellers are going for alternative destinations abroad.

Our thanks to travel magazine Goodbye