Google has revealed its latest UK traveller sentiment survey at Travel Forward Virtual, showing how the threat of quarantine and isolation is the biggest worry, leading to the prospect of a strong winter season for domestic tourism.
Finnbar Cornwall, Industry Travel Lead for Google, said:
“The overwhelming concern UK travellers have is around travel bans and getting stuck.”
The latest Google Consumer Survey found that, at the start of the October, half the sample said they had no plans to travel in the next three months. Of those who were in the market, more than one in four (28%) are planning a domestic break compared with 15% who are interested in a regional or further afield trip.
He noted that British staycationers are searching for country breaks rather than city breaks. Searches for UK holiday cottages this July was 100% up year-on-year, ahead while “car hire near me” traffic reached its highest level for 15 years.
Google has been polling UK travelers every month since April and noted how traveller concerns are changing. The first survey in April showed 32% were worried about getting stuck compared with 42% at the start of October.
“Not being able to cancel their trip” is also a bigger headache now, with 25% raising this compared with only 18% in April. “Health and safety” is less of a concern now, with people also less nervous about the cost of a trip.
Richard Gayle, event director, Travel Forward, said: “Google has its finger of the global pulse of travel and while these stats are fascinating for a UK audience, they are also typical of what many travel companies around the world are finding – traveller sentiment and expectation is changing, constantly.”
The seminar, like all the Travel Forward Virtual content, is available on demand free of charge.