Online travel package purchases up to 40%

After a year of flat growth, there has been a more than 40% increase in package sales this year among online travelers requiring multiple products, reported JupiterResearch.

Said Diane Clarkson, analyst at JupiterResearch:

“In 2005, 29% of travelers requiring multiple travel products purchased a package; in 2006, this increased to 41%.”

What’s behind the growth?

She named strong packaging promotions implemented by major online travel agencies, where virtually all of the sales are occurring.

“The research also finds the likelihood that online air travelers will book their flights through an online travel agency increases with the number of Web sites they research,” said JupiterResearch.

General search engines remain the most important media prompt among online travel researchers, at 17%.

“Despite garnering extensive media attention during the past year, travel meta search engines have not yet attached a significant proportion of online travel buyers,” said the report called “US Travel Consumer Survey, 2006.”

Report by David Wilkening