Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

Despite Inflation and Rising Costs, Travel Is Still Top-of-Mind for U.S. Consumers

by Daniel McCarthy / June 21, 2022
Travel Industry Forecast US ASTA

Photo: Jason Dixson Photography 


Travel still ranks highly when it comes to discretionary purchases this year and next, despite rising costs and inflation. That is according to new survey data, released on Tuesday by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) ahead of its annual Legislative Day. 

The survey, which ASTA called ASTA 2022 Summer Consumer Tavel Pulse, gathered data from 518 U.S. travelers who had taken at least one overnight trip within six months of the start of the pandemic or later via a 15-minute online survey. ASTA undertook the survey in May 2022 and released the findings this week. 

Among other things, now that the U.S.’s inbound testing requirement has been rescinded, the survey found that the topic on the minds of all travelers is the cost of things and inflation. Spend is already up across the travel industry—the 2022 average spend per person, per day is $512 compared to $463 in 2019—but consumers are still preparing to travel despite the cost, the survey found. 

“The number one thing that screams off the page is that 87% felt prices for consumer goods were either somewhat or significantly higher compared to the six months prior to the pandemic,” Jon Last, the president of Sports and Leisure Research Group, which helped ASTA conduct the survey, said on Tuesday. 

The situation, Last added, is better in the travel industry (numbers ranged between 72% for hotels and 78% for airfare in terms of high prices impacting spend), but still not great when it comes to consumer sentiment toward pricing. Still, U.S. travelers aren’t currently holding back when it comes to spending on travel and 41% of respondents said they plan to spend somewhat or a lot more on leisure travel for 2023. 

Two-thirds of all respondents are planning to travel before the year’s end (50% said they will travel for holidays), with most of that going to leisure travel. And for 2023, there are strong signs for international travel as 49% of respondents said they are eager to travel internationally next year.

There are also bullish signs for higher-cost trips—the survey found that three in ten Americans are planning a “dream vacation,” a higher percentage than those planning on buying a new or better vehicle (24%), remodeling their homes (20%), buying an expensive consumer item (16%), or buying a new or second home (8%). 

And it’s not just experience-for-experience-sake—80% of respondents said that a vacation would do “wonders” for their mental health. 

Travel is, and remains, on top of mind coming out of the pandemic. 

Where are consumers planning on going? 
While there was a lot of talk of how the pandemic was going to change the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers, there’s not a lot of change from pre-pandemic. 

“It is a lot of the usual suspects,” Last said. 

The survey found that, when it comes to domestic travel, Americans still favor Las Vegas (38%), Orlando (33%), New York 31%), Nashville (25%), and Los Angeles (25%). 

For international travel, Western Europe (25%), the Caribbean (20%), and Mexico (9%) ranked in the top three for most likely regions to travel to next. Those three regions ranked in that order for every single age group ASTA’s survey measure (under 35; 35 to 64; and 65-plus). 

The top 10 cities for international travel also included some familiar destinations—London, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rome, Athens, Berlin, Munich, Edinburgh, and Barcelona. 

The need for advisors keeps increasing 
With the need for travel, comes an increasingly strong need for travel advisors. 

According to the survey, 46% want more unique experiences when they travel and 49% want more customer service, two things that good advisors typically provide their clients. A large majority of respondents (71%) said that they feel travel planning is becoming more complex, requiring more planning and guidance. 

“All of this certainly plays in the hands of what travel advisors do,” Last said. “People are underwhelmed when they think about the experience they are having relative to their recollections pre-COVID. It is not universally meeting that expectation.” 

“A growing number of the traveling public understand the need for a travel advisor,” Zane Kirby, ASTA president and CEO who kicked off the press conference, said. 

  20
  0
Related Articles
ASTA’s 2nd Annual River Cruise Expo Opens in Budapest
ASTA’s General Counsel Peter Lobasso Appointed to DOT Subcommittee
ASTA Testifies in Front of DOT on Transparency and Ancillary Rules
Norwegian’s ASTA Donation Is Aimed at Growing Travel’s Most Important Distribution System
ASTA Partners with Travel Industry Solutions for Legal Contracts and Tools
Southwest Airlines CEO: Biggest Issue for Travel Recovery Is Still Pilots
ASTA Reveals Overhauled Website, Installs New Credo at Global Convention
The Beacon: In a Critical Year, Legislative Day Exceeds Expectations
ASTA To Hold 2023 Convention in Puerto Rico, Moves to Earlier in Year
Staffing Remains the Biggest Issue for the Travel Industry

MOST VIEWED

  1. Two of Germany’s Busiest Airports Will Be Closed on Monday
  2. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  3. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  4. U.S. State Department Warns of 4-Month Delays for Passport Renewal
  5. Government of Canada Updates Its Mexico Travel Advisory
  6. Royal Caribbean Eliminates Sky Pad Experience

MOST EMAILED

  1. U.S. State Department Warns of 4-Month Delays for Passport Renewal
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  3. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  4. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  5. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  6. Travelers Believe That Working With Advisors Is Only Way to Get a True Luxury Experience
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by ALG Vacations®
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=dbb24e9c-8fcc-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

9 Tips for Making Spring Break More Memorable

Spring Break has sprung and Americans are traveling in record-high numbers again

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Charter-only Transcend Cruises Charters Ex-Crystal River Ship from Riverside Cruises
Charter-only Transcend Cruises Charters Ex-Crystal River Ship from Riverside Cruises

"Retail river cruise demand is at an all-time high, the charter customer has fewer options, and we are happy to deliver a new solution." 

Read...
TICO appoints Dorian Werda as Registrar
TICO appoints Dorian Werda as Registrar

She is responsible for overseeing all regulatory functions for Ontario's travel agencies. 

Read...
Tahiti Tourisme Brings Back North American "Receptions" Road Show
Tahiti Tourisme Brings Back North American "Receptions" Road Show

Tahiti Receptions are returning to eight cities across Canada and the U.S. for the first time since 2018. 

Read...
Ontarians Still Concerned About Travel Delays & Cancellations
Ontarians Still Concerned About Travel Delays & Cancellations

Nearly two in three Ontarians are still concerned about having their travel plans delayed or cancelled. 

Read...
Ask an Advisor: Why Would a Client Pay My Fee Instead of Going Somewhere Else?
Ask an Advisor: Why Would a Client Pay My Fee Instead of Going Somewhere Else?

“Why would someone pay my fee when they can go to 20 other agents in my area who are not charging a fee?”

Read...
What Advisors Should Know About AutoCamp Luxury Camping
What Advisors Should Know About AutoCamp Luxury Camping

AutoCamp offers luxury camping in Airstreams, tents, cabins, and suites with nature and modern design.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/eeYJNcTKI9Q/0.jpg
Check-In Episode 32: We Are in Boom Time for Travel. How Long Will It Last?
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Well-Being Travel |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy