Jamie Biesiada
Several recent studies indicate that Americans are traveling a lot this holiday season, which is, of course, good news for the industry. And while there have been a lot of jitters about the year ahead, many advisors report that they expect business to be better in 2020 than it was this year.
2019 has been, for many, their best year on the books. And it looks like it'll have a strong finish.
According to ASTA's How America Travels Study, which surveyed more than 2,000 travelers, 47% of travelers expect to take a trip this holiday season. It appears that advisors' clients travel more than others, as well: of those travelers who use an advisor, 74% will likely travel during the holiday season.
A survey from Allianz Global Assistance sheds some light on where some of those travelers are headed. The survey found that U.S. travel to Europe is up 25% over last year. London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Madrid were the top five destinations (Allianz reviewed 701 million itineraries for travel to Europe during the holiday season, Nov. 20-Jan. 6). They all enjoyed healthy gains year over year.
Notably, Iceland has dropped as a destination from No. 11 on last year's list to No. 31 this year. Allianz attributed that, at least in part, to the collapse of Wow Air earlier this year.
Headed into 2020, there are more than a few reasons for an optimistic outlook.
ASTA found that 50% of travel advisors think business will be better in 2020 than it was in 2019.
In 2020, the average spend per traveler is expected to be $6,772, a 10% increase over the past year.
More travelers are expected to take trips within the U.S. in 2020 than did so in the past 12 months, 79% compared with 75%, but fewer travelers plan to go outside the U.S., 17% in 2020 compared with 23% in the past 12 months.
Consumers' top concerns when taking personal trips are personal safety (52%), not having enough money (52%), crime (49%), terrorism (46%) and severe weather and natural disasters (46%).
The Society also pulled some interesting data on travelers who use an advisor. They're more likely to be located in the Northeast, male, younger, millennials, married, have children, Latino and wealthier.
The Society said its survey indicates a positive outlook for 2020, good news for travel advisors and consumers determined to travel despite current U.S. and world news.
ASTA's research was sponsored by Carnival Corp. for the sixth year in a row.