Poll: travel in 2010 not expected to be better than 2009
The sad news is that Americans aren’t likely to travel much more in 2010 then they have this year, according to a new USA Today-sponsored Gallup Poll.
The reason: slow improvement in the economy.
“This finding offsets the optimism being expressed by travel industry leaders and market analysts who have said the slowly improving economy would increase demand for airline tickets, rental cars and such services as hotel meetings and business-gathering catering,” the report says.
The poll finds that only 16 percent of Americans plan to fly more or stay more often in hotels next year than they did in 2009.
About one-third say they actually will fly less frequently and have fewer hotel stays. “Also, tighter corporate travel policies imposed during the recession to reduce travel spending won’t vanish,” the report says.
Earlier, the National Business Travel Association predicted that corporate travel spending would grow in 2010.
However, American Express, the world’s largest travel agency and travel advisory firm, now says demand for most travel services likely won’t return to pre-recession record levels in the foreseeable future.
"We have seen signs that there’s been some stabilization and that maybe we’ve turned the corner," Lane Dubin, vice president and general manager of American Express’ business travel sales efforts in the Americas, told USA TODAY. He added:
"But that doesn’t mean things are going back to the way things were before."
He urged travel providers adjust to the “new normal" of reduced demand.
By David Wilkening
David
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
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025