Luxury Travel Trends Survey 2021

A luxury travel trends survey for 2021 reveals a comeback driven by vaccines and pent-up demand.

Strategic Vision’s 2021 Pulse of the Industry Survey measures the post-pandemic travel outlook of luxury travelers and travel advisors.

The affluent consumers in the survey, conducted by Strategic Vision, a consultancy specializing in the luxury travel and lifestyle industries, are intently focused on how they can get back on the road and when and where. And they have retained their interest in travel, with 70% of them reported having taken a trip since lockdowns began in March of last year.

2021 Travel Trends: Safaris, European Vacations, Far-Flung Destinations

“The pandemic has constrained affluent travelers, and they’re intent on fulfilling their travel dreams as soon as they’re able,” said Peter J. Bates, President and Founder of Strategic Vision.

“Our research shows this pent-up demand is generating keen interest in safaris, European vacations, and far-flung destinations — if not in the immediate term, then soon. At the same time, luxury travelers are being careful and following the science on vaccines, testing, and therapeutics.”

While we can gain interesting information from this survey, it is important to note that this survey was conducted before the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Therefore, we are finding optimism beyond what this mid-November and early December 2020 survey concludes.

Nonetheless, let’s take a peek at some of the findings:

MORE BULLS THAN BEARS AMONG LUXURY TRAVELERS

“Slightly less than half of the consumers surveyed (48%) said they feel somewhat or very positive about their leisure travel outlook in 2021, while 44% said they feel somewhat or very negative. Those with an optimistic outlook feel that sentiment more intensely than the pessimists: 14% identified as “very positive” and indicated they would definitely be traveling in 2021, whereas only 4% said they felt “very negative” and don’t plan to travel at all.

Further, a slight majority of travelers (53%) said they had already booked a trip for 2021, with another 41% saying they’re likely to do so. More of these 2021 travelers are planning trips for the second half of the year than the first. Two-thirds of respondents signaled their intention to book a trip for 2022 or beyond.

“While the results were closely divided, we were pleasantly surprised to see that more consumers felt positive momentum going into 2021. And this was before any vaccines were approved or administered,” said Bates. “It bodes well for a year of recovery that will start slowly but pick up steam in the second half.”

Indeed, most travel advisors surveyed said their clients expect to be traveling in 2021 (96% anticipating domestic trips, 63% international). Many of these forward bookings are likely to be placeholder reservations, made hoping that travel will resume, not guaranteeing the trip will happen. But of those travelers who have booked a trip in 2021, 65% are cautiously optimistic that the trip will actually take place, versus 25% who are not as confident.”

2021 is Filling up Fast

We talk to scores of travelers each week.

One of the common responses of those who want to book or re-book travel in the latter half of 2021 is shock at how quickly everything is filling up.

This is especially true of the most sought-after destinations.

I talked with one client today about booking a river cruise on the Douro in Portugal in October of 2021.  He was blown away that nearly every stateroom was sold out for the entire month.  Fortunately, we were able to grab a stateroom for them.

So dear friends, listen to me when I say, if you want to travel in the latter part of 2021, you’d better hop to it.  2021 is filling up fast!

For more information about booking your next travel adventure, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here), and we’ll reach out to you.

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