Consumer confidence has not been deterred too drastically as more than one in three (36 percent) said they would consider an international trip to a different continent in the next 12 months.
That’s according to a recent survey by GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
The 36 percent is eight percent higher than the number of respondents who said they would consider an international trip to a country on the same continent.
“Due to COVID-19, there has been frequent adjustments made to travel restrictions, and each country has different regulations in place, which means that traveling to a different continent in the short-term will still be risky,” Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, said in a news release. “These implications can lead to sudden cancelations, and the likelihood of contracting the virus is at the forefront of travelers’ minds. However, it appears that these factors may not deter consumers from traveling as long-haul routes looks set to reopen to the masses this year.
“Concern around the factors above would suggest that demand for long-haul travel should be lower than the demand for short-haul travel, however, this appears to not be the case,” Hollister added. “This shows how general fatigue created by the pandemic has left travelers adamant that they need a radical change of scenery and may be willing to put considerable concerns aside to achieve this.”
This month, United Airlines announced additional long-haul international flights to Europe, including Croatia, Iceland, and Greece. Air France is adding more flights to the United States, with new flights commencing this summer.
“This increase in long-haul flights to popular destinations shows that airlines have also predicted pent-up demand for long-haul travel this year,” Hollister said.
“Betting on long-haul travel from a traveler and business point of view still carries risk as the pandemic is not over and the situation can still quickly change,” Hollister added. “However, global demand for long-haul travel is evidently growing, which shows signs that meaningful recovery could start this year.”