State of Travel in 2007 May Mean Change in Policies and Demand Expected to Remain High
January 17 2007 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
The biggest change in 2007 starts Jan. 23 with new passport
regulations going into effect requiring passports for those
traveling by air to the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. However
Travelocity�s annual forecast poll found that nearly one in four
travelers was unaware of the new requirements, which could mean
trouble for some in the year ahead. Uncovering the latest patterns
and attitudes amongst travelers, this 2007 forecast shows consumers
are resilient in response to higher fares, new airline policies,
and changing security rules. The latest data offers insight into
how travelers will cope with travel in the coming year. With talk
of consolidation and no end of higher fares in sight, when asked
how these higher airfares might impact their travel plans, the
largest group of respondents (51 percent) said it would depend on
how much. Twenty-seven percent would take fewer trips, 18 percent
would book earlier and 11 percent would book travel packages in an
effort�to dodge additional costs. Travelers will continue to travel
to far flung destinations in 2007, with Western Europe, the
Caribbean and Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific ranking
as the most desired international regions to visit. Once travelers
are on vacation, �hitting the beach�, �relaxing/doing nothing�, and
having a cultural experience were the top three activities. "For a
growing number of travelers the year 2007 will be a great one for
international travel," says Amy Ziff, Travelocity's editor at
large. "With more people obtaining passports in order to visit the
Caribbean and Mexico this year, the world of travel options will
open up in ways it never has before." Travelocity�s survey data
reveals several other trends of note, including a tendency towards
tradition - with 61 percent saying they have an �annual trip� that
they take every year. Of those who take an annual trip, more than
half report either going to the same exact place, or at least doing
the same basic activity every time. But it�s not all beach hats and
cocktail umbrellas for travelers this year, with one in 10 planning
to commit their leisure time to volunteering while on vacation.
Additional Travelocity forecast poll findings include: Destination
Stats The top 5 intended international destinations are: 1. Western
Europe 2. The Caribbean 3. Australia / New Zealand / South Pacific
4. Mexico 5. Eastern Europe The top 5 intended domestic regional
destinations are: 1. Pacific Region (CA, OR, WA, HI, AK) 2.
Mountain Region (AZ, CO, ID, MO, NV, NM, UT, WY) 3. South Atlantic
(DL, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VI, WV) 4. New England (CT, MN, MA,
NH, RI, VT) 5. Mid Atlantic Region (NJ, NY, PN) Luggage and Packing
Data Based on new TSA luggage regulations implemented in 2006: The
largest group (27 percent) said their packing strategy has
completely changed Although 13 percent still haven�t bothered to
make any changes at all to the way they pack and just ship it or
check it When asked about the pending release of RFID chips to help
airlines reduce the amount of lost luggage: The vast majority (88
percent) were completely unfamiliar with the concept, despite the
fact that 19 percent of travelers reported losing their luggage at
least once in 2006 Other Data Points The top three motivators in
choosing an airline were: Schedule or convenience (61 percent) More
leg room (11 percent) Getting frequent flier miles (9 percent) The
Travelocity poll conducted from Dec. 19, 2006 � Jan. 3, 2007
consisted of responses from 1,280 Travelocity members. The survey
was conducted to obtain information from travelers who shopped for
or booked travel in the last 12 months. For complete survey
details, contact Vollmer Public Relations at 972-488-4790 or
andrea@vollmerpr.com. About Travelocity Travelocity(R) is committed
to being the traveler's champion - before, during and after the
trip - and is the only online travel company that guarantees not
just the price, but the entire travel experience - see
www.travelocity.com/guarantee for details. This customer-driven
focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support, great prices and powerful
shopping technology has made Travelocity the sixth largest travel
agency -- booking $7.4 billion in travel worldwide in 2005. Based
in Southlake, Texas, Travelocity also owns and operates Travelocity
Business(R) for corporate travelers, lastminute.com, a leader in
European online travel and ZUJI, a leader in Asia-Pacific online
travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation
(NYSE:TSG), a world leader in travel commerce.
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