May 6, 2015
TRAVEL TRENDS 2015
It’s the time of year when people’s thoughts turn to what they want to do and where they want to go for the summer, and as always, we’re keen to find out just what that means. Surveys such as this one from provide a wealth of information and inspiration.
As always, world events have a huge influence on these factors and can be both beneficial and detrimental to the desires of travelers. For example, recent unrest and terrorist activities in Egypt and Tunisia respectively have led to a steep decline in the amount of holidaymakers who want to visit. The relaxation by the US government of embargoes against Cuba together with new travel options from the US, however, have made a huge difference – searches for travel information have increased 185% in the last quarter.
There is also a wealth of information about when people choose to take their vacations, and how long they plan on staying away. In North America, for example, an average stay of one week is the most popular choice, and usually takes place in August. For travelers from the Middle East or Africa, one week just is not enough, with 56% of those surveyed saying that they would be away for 14 days or more.
Despite the strength of the dollar compared to other currencies around the world this year, many US travelers are looking north of the border. Search queries for Canada have increased 45% on last year. This may partly be due to people looking to attend specific events, such as the Pan Am Games being held in Toronto, or the Women’s Soccer World Cup in Vancouver.
One travel trend that sadly doesn’t seem to be going anywhere is the tendency for phone operators to continue to charge sky-high rates on roaming fees. But we knew all about that one already.
