This is according to Oliver Wyman’s second global traveller sentiment survey, titled “Anticipating The Travel Recovery”. The survey found several other changes in traveller behaviour since the first survey was originally conducted in early May. They include:
Leisure Travel -- Interest in leisure travel remains strong and has grown since May, with 63 percent of respondents expecting to travel the same amount or more post-pandemic. While most travellers in the US, Spain, Italy, China, and Australia are planning domestic trips, travellers in Canada, UK, France, and Germany are planning international locations for their next leisure trip post-COVID. The number one driver for these leisure trips globally is to visit friends and family. In the UK, 51 percent of respondents are more likely to visit friends and family compared to before COVID, showing pent up demand, compared to more than 55 percent of US respondents demonstrating the effect of Thanksgiving and holiday travel.
Business Travel -- Forty-three percent of all respondents who travel for business plan to travel less in the future, a 16-point increase from May. In the UK, 50 percent plan on travelling less. Overall, business travellers have gotten more comfortable with teleconferencing, but only 53 percent agree that they can develop new relationships via teleconferencing. This drops to 47 percent for business travellers under 30. While half of business travellers expect no change in trip duration, 30 percent expect to shorten their trips when possible, which will impact hotel stays.
More details of the report.
Modes of Transport -- Overall respondents are more comfortable with various transportation options than they were in May. On average half are now comfortable taking a flight, though only 43 percent in the UK are comfortable and 37 percent uncomfortable, and almost 60 percent are comfortable staying at a hotel (48 percent in the UK). However, less than a third are comfortable using public transportation or ride-sharing. In the UK as well as all other countries surveyed except for China, over 40 percent of respondents are still uncomfortable using public transportation or rideshare.
Cruises – Back in May, the cruise industry was still reeling from news of passengers quarantined at sea. Since then, the gap between cruises and other experiences involving significant interaction with others has closed. Respondents now feel as comfortable taking a cruise as attending a convention or going to a concert or sporting event. Past cruisers are more comfortable than first-timers.
Michael Khan, Aviation partner, Oliver Wyman, said: “Ongoing travel restrictions have taken their toll on the UK public. Much like the rest of the world, UK travellers are increasingly looking forward to going abroad on holiday again or travelling to see friends and family. With nearly a quarter shifting away from official guidance and restrictions on travel, it is increasingly important for Governments to have clear communication on the risks and for airlines to provide adequate safety measures.
“The new national lockdown and international travel ban are strong measures to stymie the spread of the virus, and they will bring their own set of challenges for the travel industry. They will likely have the effect of increasing the perceived risks of travel and of flying in particular as the pandemic continues to surge across Europe and the world over the short to medium term.”
Bruce Spear, Aviation partner, Oliver Wyman, added: “Personal judgement is now the leading factor for deciding to travel, ahead of government restrictions, advice from the World Health Organization or even having a vaccine. This means the travel industry must focus on measures that increase individual customer safety such as mandatory masks, cleaning and rapid testing and not wait for governments to issue directives.”
Pandemic Travel
The survey also asked people about actual travel they have done during the pandemic. Overall, 31 percent have travelled by air and 24 percent by train (more than 2 hours) since March. Sixty percent of these trips were primarily for leisure.
Half of travellers (51 percent) were excited to travel; while only a quarter reported being reluctant. Almost 80 percent of those who travelled were satisfied with most components of their experience including check-in, security, boarding process, passenger and crew PPE. Travellers from the US and China had an average satisfaction rating of over 80 percent across their journeys, however, travellers from the UK had a lower average satisfaction level of 70 percent. Travellers overall were less impressed with food and beverage and airport/station retail because many of these amenities have been nearly eliminated.
Price remains the number one factor for consumer choice, followed by cleaning policies and treatment of travellers. The exception is in China, where aircraft cleaning policies and treatment by the airline outrank price. Travellers view cleaning and mask mandates as the most important health and safety measures, but 40 percent would still like to see an empty seat next to them on planes and trains.
Methodology
Oliver Wyman conducted its second global survey of travellers in September and October to capture how views of travel are changing as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. The survey involved more than 4,600 people across nine countries (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States), all of whom had flown at least once in 2019. A third also have travelled by air and/or rail in the past six months.
The complete Edition 2 survey report will be available in November, with additional detail on the cruise industry and an in-depth look at the pace at which traveller sentiments are shifting and the potential structural impacts that may result from the pandemic.
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