TripAdvisor Releases Report: “Beyond COVID-19: The Road to Recovery for the Travel Industry”

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic strongly hit the travel industry due to lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. Now, those restrictions begin to ease up. However, many people are hoping to travel at least as much as they did in 2019.

TripAdvisor has recently published “Beyond COVID-19: The Road to Recovery for the Travel Industry” on their site. It shows an “analysis of the road to recovery for the global travel and hospitality industry based on extensive quantitative survey and site behavioral data – including five distinct stages to recovery.”

What TripAdvisor Found Out

A press release about the report says that one of the key findings is that “around two in five (41%) consumers are optimistic that they will take the same or more trips than last year.”

The press release added that shorter trips to destinations that are closer to home are a recurring theme. It says nearly half (44%) of consumers say they are more likely to take a road trip. Meanwhile, two thirds (61%) say they are most comfortable taking a road trip for 3-5 days.

According to the report, these are possibly because of how people perceive these as less risky trips. Many people have this mindset “since they typically involve contact with fewer people than other forms of travel.”

TripAdvisor has seen a spike in North American traffic researching campgrounds, ranches, and beach motels. The press release also said that “Myrtle Beach, San Diego and Key West are among the most popular domestic U.S. destination searches in recent weeks.”

“We're encouraged to see positive signs of recovery and are here to help our travelers and partners understand the pathway through this pandemic with clear insights and tangible data,” said Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer for Tripadvisor, Inc.

“Our path to recovery will depend on the steps the industry takes to prepare for the road ahead, Soni added. She also said that this is “not just in terms of new standards and practices but also in how we collectively educate and engage consumers in a new, more thoughtful way of traveling.”

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