EUROPE AFRICA AMERICAS APAC ME


Independent Travellers’ World survey (full)

Saturday, 07 Feb, 2002 0

Key findings from survey (in association with The Times)

  • Although respondents were independent in the way they made travel arrangements the same cannot be said for how they travel. 64% said they preferred not travel alone but 33% were happy to travel solo. (Last year this figure was 49%)

  • 30% have fallen in love on their travels.

  • The Internet continues to be an important source for independent travellers as do guide books. 68% of respondents used the Internet to research their holiday, 52% used guidebooks and 51% used magazines and newspapers to research their holiday.

  • Time spent travelling is on the increase with 50% travelling for two weeks or more.

  • When asked where they were travelling next. 35% stated Western Europe, 23% planned to travel to Australia or New Zealand, 20% planned to travel to Eastern Europe and 11% to the USA.

  • As for what’s important to people when they travel 76% stated adequate travel insurance was important. 73% said proper immunisation was important. 72% said a safe environment was very important. 57% said knowledge of a destination was important before travelling. Knowledge of self-defence and keeping in contact with home were considered to be of less importance.

  • Independent Travel continues to grow in popularity 44% considered themselves independent travellers, preferring to tailor make their holiday to ensure a flexible itinerary.

  • Only 5% said they book package holidays but 40% said their holiday contained both package and independent elements.

  • Only 28% used travel agents. (*In last year’s survey with a similar sample size 56% used a travel agent.)

  • 81% of those taking a gap year would combine work and travel experience

  • 30% said the best time to take a gap year was before University, 36% said after University and 27% would take a gap year as a career break

  • When asked what they wouldn’t travel without (excluding their passport) the most popular responses (in order of popularity) were: – Camera, Cash, Travel Insurance, and Swiss Army knife/ penknife.

    • Statistics taken from an independent survey commissioned by ITW with a sample size of 300, surveys were distributed in travel shops and leisure centres across London. Respondents were aged between 18 and 45. Further details of the survey are available from Michels Warren on 0207 3367313.



     



    City Experiences

    City Cruises is a leading operator of sightseeing, dining and charter services operating in London, York and Poole. We offer a variety of cruises that feature iconic s...

    Traveltek

    Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We work with a wide range ...

    Riskified

    Our Mission Ecommerce has transformative powers, and we believe everyone should be able to take part. But outdated solutions and overwhelmed systems create uncertainty...

    WTE Miami

      Welcome to WTE Miami   WTE Miami is an international travel and tourism expo that offers your company a platform to generate new business opportunities. WT...

    Mabrian Technologies

    We work with reliable data providers with global coverage, that guarantee data representativeness as well as compliance with International Personal Data Protection law...

    Blue Diamond Resorts

    Blue Diamond Resorts consistently goes above and beyond guest expectations by delivering groundbreaking vacation experiences through our exceptional collection of accl...

    Hilton

    Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising nearly 7,300 properties and more than 1.1 million rooms, in 123 cou...

    Regent Seven Seas Cruises

    Celebrating its 30-year anniversary in 2022, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® offers guests An Unrivaled Experience® with every luxury included. Carrying no more than 750 gu...

    Arival

    Arival advances the business of creating amazing in-destination experiences. We provide events, insights, and community for creators and sellers of tours, activities, ...

    Visit Detroit

      The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) is the only organization that promotes metro Detroit regionally, nationally and internationally as a ...

    Visit Sweden

    To say Sweden is fit for a fairy tale is not overstating it—the palaces dazzle, the boreal forests are brimming with mushrooms and berries, and magical Lapland is home...

    Visit Morocco

    Local spices spike the fragrant air of Morocco. Cradled by the dunes of the Sahara, the Kingdom has been inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years. Moroccan culture...

    London North Eastern Railway

    We’re here to provide the very best experience in train travel. From booking your ticket, to asking us a question on the platform and getting settled onboard our train...

    Palladium Hotel Group

    Palladium Hotel Group is a renowned Spanish hotel chain that first emerged towards the end of the 1960s. Currently present in six countries, we are made up of 50 hotel...

    Discova

    In 2019, Buffalo Tours and Olympus Tours joined the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) family and formed Discova. With the backing of one of the world’s largest travel ...

    AC Group

    Travel specialists founded the company in 1999 as AC Tours. Since then we have grown and expanded to incorporate four premier brands with offices in London, Paris and ...

    Philippine Airlines

    Philippine Airlines (PR), also known as PAL, is the Filipino flag carrier. The company started their operations in February 1941, which makes PAL the oldest and longes...

    Destination British Columbia

    Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s tourism i...

    Will the FIFA World Cup impact summer bookings?
    Most Read
    mostcomentedimg TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
    advisor_img

    Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
    advisor_img

    Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
    advisor_img

    Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
    advisor_img

    Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
    advisor_img

    Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025

    Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know

    Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham

    Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago

    Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research

    Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact

    Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference

    Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role

    Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal

    Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination

    Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness

    Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future

    Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
    TRAINING & COMPETITION
    topnews
    Holland America Line teams up ...
    topnews
    Central Florida Insider: Get t...
    topnews
    Crystal Launches Sell Three, S...
    topnews
    Introducing Inclusive Collecti...
    topnews
    Unlock Exclusive Benefits, Red...
    topnews
    Mālama Maui By Visiting Mindf...
    Skip to toolbar
    Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
    Updating... Please wait...