April 22, 2003
Back in December, Travelocity commissioned a third party polling company (Telenation) to find out where people planned to travel in 2003 and how war, or a heightened security alert, would change those plans. We released our findings at the beginning of the year. But, given all that has happened since then, we thought it was a good idea to find out if attitudes about travel had changed.
The good news for those of us in the travel business is the majority of Americans still plan to travel during the coming year. That's not surprising; as we know, Americans love to travel--some die-hards would even say they live to travel.
However, some of what we learned did surprise us. For example, most of the people who said they were undecided about their travel plans, (about one third of those polled) said it was the economy--not the war, security, or the inconveniences of travel that gave them pause. Some 86 percent of that group said if the cost of travel came down dramatically, the likelihood of them traveling would go way up.
One shift in travel that has been ongoing for some time is the inclination of travelers to choose destinations a bit closer to home. In other words, places within a 200-mile radius of their backdoor. While flying is still the dominant choice, more and more families are opting for the more "traditional" vacation. About half the travelers plan to roll through America this year--taking it all in through their car windows.
For travelers who fly, trip planning has increasingly become a last-minute endeavor--as online agencies like Travelocity have opened up a world of affordable adventure for everyone from the savvy shopper to the more frugal and flexible.
In a way it's surprising--given all the changes taking place in travel--just how familiar today's most popular destinations are. Our survey shows that the folks in Orlando, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas have learned a thing or two about attracting repeat visitors.
That's not to say the current climate hasn't opened up more exotic travel. Serious bargain hunters reportedly have their eye on finding deals to Australia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, and Central and South America.
Whether you're looking near or far, using our fare watcher to track the sales, or just keeping an eagle-eye out, be ready to buy because from what I'm seeing, those famed fare sales are just heating up.
No matter what your travel plans are, remember--we're here to help. And while you're on the road, remember to send a postcard to the folks back home. (Go on, make them green with envy!) Hey, whether you live to travel, proclaim that to travel is to live, or just plain like to go places, I hope you have happy travels this year.
If you have a question or topic you would like me to cover in a future column, please e-mail Amy Ziff at askamy@travelocity.com And remember to look here for your topic each week!
Traveler Advice