Inflation and travel disruptions are having a minimal impact on the travel sentiment of experienced travellers, according to a new survey by travel risk and crisis response provider, Global Rescue. And while the nature of the trips taken may be changing, travellers are making their intentions clear: they are going to travel no matter what.

Global Rescue ‘Summer 2022 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey’ reports that 79% of international respondents say inflation won’t cause them to cancel their travel plans. In fact, more than a fifth of travellers (21%) plan to spend more time and money on trips to make up for curtailed travel due to the pandemic.

And while incidents of staff shortages among pilots, flight attendants, gate agents and ground crews are affecting travel schedules, the majority of travellers (58%) have not been touched by it, according to the survey results.

“Travellers are sending a clear message. They are eager to regain their family vacations, adventure travels and business trips. By overwhelming margins, they are pressing forward with international and domestic travel despite rising costs and airline staff shortages. They are confident they’ll be able to travel and return home,” says company CEO Dan Richards, who is a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce.

However, travellers are adjusting to inflation and higher travel costs in a variety of ways:

• 20% of respondents reported they changed an international trip and replaced it with a less expensive trip. Among domestic travellers, more than a quarter (28%) changed a domestic trip and replaced it with a less expensive one.
• 21% say they will travel for fewer days
• 19% plan to fly on less expensive tickets,
• 15% percent report they will stay at less costly lodging
• 12% will eat out less or at less expensive restaurants
• 6% are greatly reducing or not buying souvenirs or gifts during their trip, and
• 3% will skip buying travel insurance.

Survey   

Global Rescue conducted a survey of more than 2,100 of its current and former members between July 12 and 16, 2022. The respondents exposed a range of behaviours, attitudes, and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.