TravelBoom, a leading data-driven digital marketing agency, has just released its 2022 Leisure TravelTrends Study report, after polling over 2,000 travelers this year and conducting extensive research on the topic. The company has created a comprehensive picture of how the industry is changing by comparing their responses to those of the combined 90,000 participants in previous studies.
Since the agency's previous major study on leisure travel was carried out in 2019, the report for this year reveals a great deal about how the behavior of leisure travelers in terms of planning and booking has changed since the time before the pandemic.
The rising cost of travel, the general economy, ongoing concerns about COVID-19, and technological tools are currently some of the most influential factors that are creating some startling changes in the mindsets, preferences, and behaviors of consumers.
According to Pete DiMaio, COO of TravelBoom, "Leisure travel remains one of the most adversely affected industries in the post-pandemic period and consumers are very conscious of inflation, lingering COVID-19 concerns, along with high expectations for destinationsand accommodations. In order to improve our marketing strategies and have a bigger impact, we can better understand consumer mindset and purchase journey thanks to our yearly Leisure Travel Trends study.
More than one-third of respondents said they might have to cancel existing vacation plans due to financial constraints.
Fifty-six percent said that high gas prices have a moderate or significant impact on their travel decisions.
Budget concerns (53 percent), transportation costs (48 percent), and lodging costs were the most common barriers to respondents booking trips in the first place (45 percent).
Because of financial constraints, more than one-third of respondents said they might have to cancel existing vacation plans.
High gas prices, according to 56%, have a moderate or significant impact on their travel decisions.
Budget concerns (53 percent), transportation costs (48 percent), and lodging costs were the main barriers to respondents booking trips in the first place (45 percent).
In 2022, 46.3 percent of respondents said price was their top consideration when planning a vacation, up from 37.9 percent in 2019.
Along with the cost of their accommodations, transportation costs, amenities, and loyalty programs are all factors that can influence travelers' decisions.
According to the study, 55% of people still consider COVID-19 risks before booking their trips.
Only 13.5 percent of leisure travelers in the United States believe the pandemic has had a significant impact on their travel.
However, 45 percent of Canadian travelers responded in the same way, demonstrating COVID-19's continuing influence on international travel.
According to the study, 82 percent of travelers will not book a stay at a property without first consulting consumer reviews.
“„"Reviews and social proof are make-or-break points for a vacation booking," according to the report.
In point of fact, nearly forty percent of people who purchase travel products consult reviews at every stage of the vacation planning process.
Reviews are an integral component of the shopping experience.