Online managed business bookings to see ‘Dramatic’ increase
US online travel sales will reach a year-end total of $54 billion this year, making up 23% of all domestic travel sales, according to the latest market forecast by JupiterResearch.
The figure marked a 20% increase above last year’s total.
The robust growth is predicted to continue through 2009, reaching a total of $91 billion, the report said. That would represent one third of all purchased travel.
“A key driver of projected growth is the surge in online managed business sales, expected to nearly triple from a 2004 total of $12 billion to $32 billion in 2009,” the report said.
Said Diane Clarkson, lead analyst of the study:
“We’re expecting to see significant growth in online managed business travel, driven by a shift from previously unmanaged small-and medium-sized businesses into online managed business travel environments.”
Airline tickets remain the largest online leisure travel category, representing $23.2 billion. “We’re seeing steady growth across all segments of the online travel industry,” said Ms Clarkson.
She said Google and Yahoo are now the starting point for 18% of travelers using online services, compared to two percent each for newspapers, magazines and radio.
The $54 billion figure is much higher than Jupiter’s estimate of $43 billion a year ago. The rise was attributed to a stronger-than-expected recovery in the overall travel market, according to Ms Clarkson.
JupiterResearch is a division of Jupitermedia Corporation.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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