Travelers are committed to making a difference as travel returns
New survey shows 74% of people want their travel dollars to benefit local people
As we look ahead to when we can travel again, it’s clear American travelers want to make a difference with their vacation choices; they want to immerse themselves in local culture and ensure their travel benefits local people in the destinations they visit, which are likely to be more remote or lesser-visited places than they would have traveled to pre-pandemic.
The results come from a recent survey conducted by adventure operator and pioneer of community tourism, G Adventures. The survey of more than 780* US travelers was designed to reveal travelers’ ‘retravel resolutions’: why they want to head out into the world again, what is most important to them when they do, and how they will change their travel behaviors to have a more positive impact on the planet and its people.
When asked the main reason why they wanted to travel again, the top answer from travelers was to immerse themselves in a different culture (65%) followed by the desire to reconnect with the world (61%), with one third of travellers (35%) also looking to connect with nature on their next international trip.
When it comes to what is important to Americans when they travel again, the majority consider the most important factor in their choice to be that their money benefits local people (74%) followed by ensuring wildlife is protected where they go (48%). Nearly half of travelers surveyed (45%) want to avoid over-touristed destinations on their next trip, with 63% of Americans stating that they will visit more remote places / less visited areas of a destination when they retravel.
The respondents were also asked to commit to one ‘big small action’ they could take to ensure they travel better as and when international travel returns. The most common commitment was to support local people and businesses at 37%. This was closely followed by doing more research before they book their trip at 34%, with a further 17% of travelers making a commitment to reduce plastic and / or bring a reusable bottle with them when they go.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder, G Adventures, says the results give agents even more reason to book their travelers now for travel later once restrictions are lifted.
“It’s apparent travelers want their vacations to be more meaningful after this forced hiatus for international travel. They want their money to support local people in the destinations they go to and the best way for people to show their support now is to make a commitment to travel, so these communities can benefit later.
“We understand there’s uncertainty in terms of when people will be able to travel, but with our flexible booking conditions customers can have peace of mind, as well as a trip booked to look forward to when restrictions lift. We know there is pent-up demand building, so now is the time to be booking ahead,” says Poon Tip.
For agents interested in learning more about community tourism, G Adventures is hosting the latest in its series of Retravel Live events on January 27 at 12.00pm EST.
During the Retravel Live: The Power of Community Tourism virtual event, G Adventures’ founder, Bruce Poon Tip, will host responsible travel experts Audrey Scott (co-founder, Uncornered Market), Judy Kepher Gona (director, Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda), and Jamie Sweeting (president, Planeterra) for an online conversation about the positive impact of community tourism, and the power travel plans have to help change the world. To register, please sign up at: https://retravellive.com.
For more information on G Adventures, please visit www.gadventures.com.
About G Adventures
Founded in 1990 by social entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures is a small group adventure travel operator offering more than 1,000 tours in 100 countries, on all seven continents. G Adventures’ award-winning trips support local communities, giving travelers meaningful experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, while offering them the freedom and flexibility to explore on their own. G Adventures’ responsible approach to travel is demonstrated through its ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives, which include travel guidelines for children, wildlife and Indigenous people, community-based social enterprise projects travelers can experience on a trip, and its industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’ assessment which measures how many traveler dollars stay in the local economy. G Adventures offers life-changing tours for individuals of all ages, interests and budgets. Because our world deserves more you. For more information please visit www.gadventures.com
For more information, images, interviews or to unsubscribe, please contact:
Kim Greiner, US PR Manager, G Adventures, [email protected]
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