NEWTON, Mass., April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®,
the world's largest travel site*, today announced the results of
the third installment of the TripBarometer, the world's largest
accommodation and traveler survey¹. This bi-annual study, conducted
on behalf of TripAdvisor by independent research firm Ipsos,
highlights country, regional and global travel trends, according to
more than 60,000 travelers and hoteliers around the world,
including more than 10,000 U.S. respondents. Revealing changes in
consumer spending plans and worldwide travel patterns, the
TripBarometer also reports behavioral differences in planning and
booking habits of travelers at different life stages.
International Trips Up 14% for U.S. Respondents; Domestic
Travel Remains Steady:
- 67 percent of U.S. travelers are planning to travel
internationally in 2014 (up from 53 percent in 2013)
- 97 percent are planning a domestic trip this year, compared to
95 percent last year
- Among global travelers, 77 percent plan to travel
internationally, up 12 percent compared to 2013
- 90 percent of global travelers are planning to travel
domestically (up from 87 percent in 2013)
Travel Budgets Grow for U.S. Respondents in 2014:
The average U.S. traveler budget is $8,272 this year, up slightly from $8,202 in 2013. This compares favorably to the
average global traveler budget of $6,136, which was also up from last year
($5,955 in 2013.) The U.S. ranked #6
among the Top 10 countries expected to spend the most on trips in
2014. The complete global Top 10 travel spend rankings
year-over-year are below:
Markets that spent
the most in 2013: Top 10
(average of all
countries after conversion into US$)
|
Markets that
will spend the most in 2014: Top 10
(average of all
countries after conversion into US$)
|
1
|
Switzerland
|
$11,619
|
1
|
Australia
|
$12,393
|
2
|
Australia
|
$10,528
|
2
|
Switzerland
|
$11,575
|
3
|
United
Kingdom
|
$8,959
|
3
|
New
Zealand
|
$8,457
|
4
|
Germany
|
$8,756
|
4
|
United
Kingdom
|
$8,351
|
5
|
United
States
|
$8,207
|
5
|
Germany
|
$8,331
|
6
|
New
Zealand
|
$7,682
|
6
|
United
States
|
$8,272
|
7
|
Canada
|
$7,396
|
7
|
Canada
|
$7,429
|
8
|
Ireland
|
$6,720
|
8
|
Ireland
|
$6,559
|
9
|
France
|
$6,718
|
9
|
Brazil
|
$6,482
|
10
|
Israel
|
$6,668
|
10
|
France
|
$6,411
|
Vast Majority of U.S. Travelers' Booking Dependent on
Deals:
Ninety-four percent of U.S. respondents say their choice of trip
is influenced by the availability of a good deal or special offer.
In fact, the majority of U.S. respondents say that "price" (97%)
and "special offers" (47%) are important decision-making factors
when booking their accommodation.
Twenty-two percent of U.S. respondents reported that currency
fluctuations – the strength of the dollar relative to other
currencies – would impact their travel plans. Of those travelers
who say currency fluctuations will impact them, 58 percent will be
even more diligent in their travel research to find the best
price.
In contrast, hoteliers around the world are placing higher
importance on online reviews rather than price to influence
travelers' booking decisions. According to the survey, 64 percent
of hoteliers believe that online reviews have the biggest impact
when travelers book accommodations, followed by price (50%) and
recommendations from friends and family (45%).
U.S. Travelers Share "Dream Destinations":
When asked about their dream destinations to visit, Italy, Australia and Ireland ranked as the Top 3 for U.S.
travelers. Among non-U.S. respondents, the U.S. topped the list of
dream destinations for travelers from Greece, Israel and Spain.
The Caribbean was the most
visited region in the past year for U.S. travelers and is also the
most popular destination planned for the coming year.
"Exploration is back on the agenda in 2014, with more travelers
planning international trips this year," said Marc Charron, president, TripAdvisor for
Business. "TripBarometer offers up insights into the needs and
behaviors of consumers in today's rapidly changing travel
marketplace, providing valuable insights for hospitality businesses
looking to attract new audiences. Travelers are upping their
budgets but they are looking for bargains, expecting their
accommodation of choice to deliver on value. Special offers,
complimentary amenities and exceptional service are all going to be
important factors in swaying potential guests."
For the full TripBarometer report, infographic and global
findings, please visit www.tripadvisor.com/tripbarometer and to see
more information on some of the demographic and mobile travel
trends, check out the TripAdvisor blog at
http://blog.tripadvisor.com/blog/2014/04/23/2014-tripadvisor-tripbarometer-international-travel-up
¹ Methodology: The TripBarometer study, by TripAdvisor,
is based upon an online survey conducted from 14 February to
10 March 2014, conducted by Ipsos, a
global research firm. A total of 61,007 interviews were completed
in 32 markets, spanning 7 regions. The sample is made up of 50,637
consumers who are TripAdvisor website users and Ipsos online
panelists who have researched their travel plans online in the last
year; and 10,370 representatives from accommodations on TripAdvisor
database, making it the world's largest combined accommodation and
traveler survey. The consumer survey data is weighted to represent
the known profile of the online population, to keep in line with
previous waves of TripBarometer. Equal weighting is also applied at
country level for the business survey. For additional information
about TripBarometer, please visit www.tripadvisor.com/tripbarometer
and download the global report.
About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*,
enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor
offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of
travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking
tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel
community in the world, reaching more than 260 million unique
monthly visitors** in 2013, and more than 150 million reviews and
opinions covering more than 3.7 million accommodations, restaurants
and attractions. The sites operate in 38 countries worldwide,
including China under daodao.com.
TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated
division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of
monthly TripAdvisor visitors.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites
under 20 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com,
www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com,
www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com,
www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com,
www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com,
www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com,
www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com,
www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and
www.kuxun.cn.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide,
December 2013
**Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, July 2013
SOURCE TripAdvisor