Survey shows distrust of travel agents
One in four holidaymakers do not trust travel agents, according to an independent survey of over 2,000 consumers.
The research, commissioned by independent health and safety experts Check Safety First and carried out by Opinion Matters, found over 25% of consumers who booked a holiday through a travel agent felt their trip didn’t accurately reflect the description in the brochure.
“If you think back to 15 years ago, the only way you could book a holiday was through your local travel agent, whose brochures and advice you had to trust,†said Steve Tate, chairman at Check Safety First.
“Now holidaymakers don’t need to rely solely on travel agents’ advice and can read honest, unbiased opinions from travellers who’ve recently visited the hotel.â€
He said travel review websites look beyond the “gloss of the brochuresâ€, which only cover resort facilities such as swimming pools and distance from the beach, and don’t grade the hotel’s customer service, ambience or hygiene standards.
“I would encourage people to research their holiday destination online before booking, but bear in mind that each traveller’s opinion will be based on a limited experience,†he added.
“Travel agents must be able to provide advice on the more subjective aspects of a holiday. Those who do this will remain successful as holidaymakers will return to ones they feel they can trust.â€
Check Safety First works with UK hotels, advising on health and safety best practice.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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