Positive for tourism: Swiss* have timely vacation plans

While freedom of travel was massively restricted in the past two years due to Corona, the signals are now increasingly green again. This is reflected in the current Spotlight survey by Marketagent.com Switzerland on the vacation plans of the Swiss population and the analogous survey conducted by the market research institute in April 2020.

Hope for a more relaxed situation

Many of the respondents expect the Corona situation to ease in the course of the year. This conclusion is obvious, especially since significantly more of the respondents (58%) are currently planning vacations than in April 2020 (51%). At the same time, the number of undecideds is declining (December 2021: 23%, April 2020: 29%). The proportion of those not planning a vacation has remained constant at one-fifth.

Preferred abroad

38 percent of respondents are drawn to foreign countries (April 2020: 32%), while 29 percent want to spend their vacations in Switzerland (April 2020: 26%).

Men are more likely to plan than women

More men than women are planning to pack their bags: While a majority of women (54%) are planning vacations, the proportion is significantly higher among men, at 63 percent. Men are also more likely to plan trips abroad than women (44% vs. 32%).

Education level correlates with vacation planning

The higher the level of education, the more likely vacations are on the agenda: respondents with a higher level of education plan vacations significantly more often (high: 66%, medium: 54%, low 50%). For the group with a very high level of education, trips abroad are a particularly high priority, accounting for 47 percent (trips in Switzerland: 33%).

"Industry must provide protection concept"

Basically, the results for travel behavior show a high awareness regarding security and Corona. "From the perspective of the travel and tourism industry, it is essential to provide a good and reliable protection concept for guests," says Cornelia Eck, Managing Director of Marketagent.com Switzerland.

Of those planning a trip or still undecided, 72 percent consider it very important that hygiene standards and safety guidelines relating to Corona are reliably implemented at the vacation destination.

The vast majority, then, intends to adhere strictly to the travel regulations regarding Corona (80%), which are set by the authorities both at home and abroad.

Airplane and train are avoided

Protection from Corona also plays a role in the choice of accommodation and type of travel. Thus, 46 percent avoid accommodations such as hotels, hostels or cruise ships where many people congregate.

One in two prefers destinations that can be reached by private transport. 40 percent avoid traveling by plane or train and generally by public transport.

Compulsory vaccination polarizes

Along with the increased awareness in dealing with Corona comes the fact that a correspondingly large number of people are annoyed by those who do not comply with the Corona travel regulations (68%). There are hardly any differences between the sexes.

The situation is different depending on the generation: In general, the proportion of those who disapprove of such behavior is high across all age groups. However, it is by far the highest among the over-50s (75%). Among boys (14- to 19-year-olds), the figure is 59 percent. In German-speaking Switzerland, too, anger toward people who violate the Corona travel regulations is significantly higher (72 percent) than in French-speaking Switzerland (56%).

The camps are clearly divided when it comes to the question of mandatory vaccination. For 45 percent - especially of the 50- to 74-year-olds (52%) - compulsory vaccination in the destination would be one more reason to travel there. On the other hand, 36 percent disagree with this statement.

Cancellation free of charge must be possible

The experience of the last two years has shown how Corona can ruin vacation plans from one day to the next. For a large majority, being able to guard against it is crucial.

For example, 71 percent make their vacation plans based on the fact that they can cancel bookings free of charge. "The ball is now in the providers' court. Especially for those who are still undecided, free cancellation can be a decisive factor," says Cornelia Eck.

In the current study by Marketagent.com Switzerland a total of 1,008 people from German- and French-speaking Switzerland aged between 14 and 74 were asked about their vacation plans in the next eight months. The survey was conducted from December 10 to 20, 2021 and is population-representative weighted.