The travel industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past couple of years, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing widespread disruption and uncertainty for travellers around the world.
While the pandemic brought the industry to a standstill for a time, there are signs that things are starting to look up as vaccines are rolled out and travel restrictions begin to ease.
As we move into the post-COVID era, there is a sense of cautious optimism that the travel industry will rebound, with travellers eager to explore new destinations and revisit old favourites.
In this study, we will explore the latest post-COVID travel trends and examine how the industry is adapting to the new normal.
In this article...
Impact of COVID on travel industry
The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the travel industry, with borders closing, flights cancelled, and tourism coming to a virtual standstill.
Many travellers were forced to cancel their plans, while airlines, hotels, and other travel providers struggled to stay afloat. But despite the challenges, the industry has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we can see that the travel industry is already starting to recover, with travellers eagerly planning their next trips and travel providers implementing new health and safety measures to ensure their customers can travel with confidence.
While the road to recovery may be long, there is reason to believe that the travel industry will bounce back stronger than ever before.
Trends & Statistics: Travel Industry
According to a recent survey by travel company Booking.com, 70% of global travellers plan to take more domestic trips in the future, with 56% saying they want to explore more of their own country. (source: Booking.com Future of Travel report)
Another survey by travel insurance provider Allianz Partners found that 52% of Americans plan to take at least one international trip in the next 12 months, up from just 35% in September 2020. (source: Allianz Partners Travel Insurance Index)
Air travel is also starting to rebound, with the number of passengers passing through TSA checkpoints in the US reaching 80% of pre-pandemic levels during the summer of 2021. (source: TSA checkpoint travel numbers)
A recent report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that international tourist arrivals could reach 75% of pre-pandemic levels by 2022, as more destinations open up and travellers become more confident about travelling again. (source: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer)
According to the European Travel Commission (ETC), international arrivals to Europe increased by 42% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. (source: European Travel Commission)
The UK, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, is also seeing signs of recovery.
In August 2021, the number of international passengers travelling through Heathrow Airport increased by 74% compared to the same month in 2020. (source: Heathrow Airport)
In Spain, one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, international arrivals in July 2021 were up 78% compared to the same month in 2020. (source: Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism)
A recent survey by travel company Skyscanner found that 70% of UK travellers are planning an international trip in the next 12 months, with Spain, Portugal, and Italy among the most popular destinations. (source: Skyscanner)
These statistics offer reason for optimism that the travel industry in Europe is well on its way to recovering from the impact of the pandemic.
Travel Insurance Statistics – Post COVID19
As more travellers feel confident about travelling again, we had predicted to see travel insurance usage numbers continue to rise. Various statistics and studies report that it is true.
As travellers navigate the new realities of post-COVID travel, travel insurance has become more important than ever before.
Here are some recent statistics on the use of travel insurance:
According to travel insurance provider Allianz Partners, sales of travel insurance in the US were up 53% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. (source: Allianz Travel Insurance Index)
Another survey by Allianz found that 74% of Americans plan to purchase travel insurance for their next trip, up from 67% in 2020. (source: Allianz Travel Insurance Trends survey)
In the UK, a survey by travel insurance provider battleface found that 66% of travellers are more likely to buy travel insurance now than before the pandemic. (source: battleface survey)
A survey by travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth found that policies with COVID-19 coverage accounted for 40% of all travel insurance policies sold in the first half of 2021. (source: Squaremouth)
These statistics suggest that travellers are increasingly aware of the importance of travel insurance in the post-COVID era, and are taking steps to protect themselves and their travel plans.
As the travel industry continues to recover, we can expect to see this trend towards greater use of travel insurance continue.
US Domestic Travel & Tourism Statistics – Post COVID19
Here are some interesting statistics about domestic travel in the USA post-COVID, along with the sources:
According to the U.S. Travel Association, domestic leisure travel spending in the United States is projected to reach $971 billion in 2022, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. (source: U.S. Travel Association)
In a survey by the travel company Expedia, 57% of Americans reported that they plan to prioritize domestic travel over international travel for the next year, and 53% said they will be taking more road trips than they did pre-pandemic. (source: Expedia)
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that it screened over 2 million passengers per day during the busy summer travel months of 2021, which is close to pre-pandemic levels. (source: TSA)
According to a survey by vacation rental platform Vrbo, 61% of Americans are more likely to book a vacation rental for their next trip than they were pre-pandemic. (source: Vrbo)
These statistics suggest that domestic travel in the USA is rebounding strongly in the post-COVID era, with Americans eager to explore their own country and take advantage of the wide range of vacation options available to them.
With high levels of vaccination and a gradual return to normalcy, we can expect this trend towards domestic travel to continue.
Inferences
- Post-COVID, people are eager to travel again, and there has been a significant increase in international and domestic travel.
- International travel to Europe is rebounding strongly, with a 42% increase in international tourist arrivals in Q3 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
- Domestic travel in the USA is rebounding even more strongly, with domestic leisure travel spending projected to reach $971 billion in 2022, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels.
- Road trips and vacation rentals are increasingly popular travel options in the USA, with many Americans prioritizing domestic travel over international travel.
- The use of travel insurance has increased significantly since the pandemic began, with many travelers seeking coverage for COVID-19-related issues.
Overall, these statistics paint an optimistic picture of the travel industry post-COVID, with many travelers eager to explore new destinations and take advantage of the many travel options available to them.
With high levels of vaccination and a gradual return to normalcy, we can expect this trend towards increased travel to continue.
Sources and Citations
Allianz Travel Insurance Index: https://www.allianzpartnersonline.com/travel-insurance-index
Allianz Travel Insurance Trends survey: https://www.allianzpartnersonline.com/Travel-Insurance-Trends-2021
Battleface survey: https://www.battleface.com/blog/battleface-survey-shows-travel-insurance-is-on-the-rise-in-the-uk/
Squaremouth: https://www.squaremouth.com/press-room/covid-19-policies-now-account-for-40-of-all-travel-insurance-sold-this-year
European Travel Commission: https://etc-corporate.org/press-releases/international-tourist-arrivals-to-europe-increased-by-42-in-q3-2021-compared-to-the-same-period-in-2020/
Heathrow Airport: https://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/heathrow-reports-74-year-on-year-increase-in-international-passenger-numbers-for-august/
Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism: https://www.tourism-review.com/spains-tourism-industry-registers-steady-growth-news12257
Skyscanner: https://www.skyscanner.net/news/planning-travel-after-covid-19
U.S. Travel Association: https://www.ustravel.org/press/domestic-travel-spending-expected-exceed-2019-levels-2022
Transportation Security Administration (TSA): https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus/passenger-throughput
Vrbo: https://www.vrbo.com/l/vacationrentals/2022-travel-trends
