Spanish travel agents believe that recovery will be very slow
Seven out of 10 domestic travel agents believe that the reactivation of tourism activity will start when most of the population is vaccinated, according to the latest Observatur report. Most believe this will not happen until next summer or later. In any case, 84% of those consulted believe that it will be a slow or very slow recovery.
According to the 2020/2021 Season Report ofthe National Observatory of Outbound Tourism (Observatur), it will take 1.75 years 1.75 years to reach the previous level of activity, i.e., it will not happen before the summer of 2022, according to the Spanish travel agents.
In line with these impressions, 84.5% of agents believe that in 2021 they will not recover the 2019 levels of turnover. In practice, 72.3% believe that billings will be half of what they were in 2019 or less. The most frequent estimate is that between 30% and 50% of what was realized last year will be billed.
Although the recovery is slow in coming and will take place slowly, most of the agency representatives consulted maintain that they will basically return to the same trips as before the pandemic: 70% state that travel will be “not at all” or “only a little different”.
Among those who state that travel will change (30%), three possible variations are cited in particular: the form of contracting, the requirements for accommodations and those for transportation. Some 38% place demands on travel agencies among those that will change the most following the pandemic.
TRIPS OF THE FUTURE
One of the rising values for travel in the future will be flexibility in contracting, as the agreement between agencies is practically unanimous. For the vast majority, the health guarantees will also be very important.
It is also thought that bookings will be delayed as a result of the fear of outbreaks. A notable representation of those consulted also understands that more environmentally responsible travel is being sought. Six out of ten agents, moreover, also believe that there will be an increase in the need for information about the trip and the destination.
More doubtful, however, is that they will seek new ways to travel: are practically the same those who believe that this will not happen (32%) than those who are betting on this change (31%).
About how the travel agencies of the future would have to be, facing the new reality that the pandemic has left behind, the interviewees think that the clients will value three aspects in particular:professional advice, safety and security and the ability to personalize the trips. After these, there will be the knowledge of the health measures of the suppliers and the empathy to understand the customer.