Almost 80% of Consumers Want to Travel in 2021

Consumers are looking forward to traveling again and want a travel advisor to help them plan future trips.

That’s according to the latest American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report, which surveyed 1,000 travelers in Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the UK and 2,000 in the U.S. between January 15 and 24.

The report found that an overwhelming majority (87%) of people said that having a trip planned in the future gives them something to look forward to. People are finding hope and comfort in thinking about and even planning future trips, with 78% of respondents indicate wanting to travel in 2021 to relieve the stresses from 2020.

What’s more, as the travel landscape is particularly complex, consumers are seeking out trusted travel advisors to help them navigate and plan their future travels. Nearly three in five people (59%) indicated that they want to use a travel agent to help plan and customize their next trip.

To make up for missed travel, 61% of survey respondents plan to spend more than they normally would on a trip in 2021 since they could not travel in 2020.

“Our latest global trends report shows that there is a pent-up demand for travel among consumers, with many people longing for and beginning to plan future trips,” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel.

The survey also found that 65% of respondents said they plan to travel after they and their family members have received a vaccine for COVID-19.

Emerging travel trends
The survey also uncovered the new travel trends that will emerge post-pandemic.

The coronavirus has changed peoples’ perception of luxury travel with personalized experiences (82%), high cleanliness standards (81%), and privacy (79%) being the most desirable luxury amenities among respondent

A majority of respondents (80%) indicate they are willing to travel to destinations during the offseason so that it's less crowded, while 69% of respondents are interested in visiting lesser-known destinations.

As consumers become more conscious travelers, 72% of respondents agree that they are passionate about traveling to destinations to help boost tourism revenue and the local economy; 69% of respondents agree that they want to choose an airline/hotel that values diversity and inclusion, and whose employees reflect a diverse customer base.