Swiss want to support small hotels and destinations at home
The coronavirus crisis is influencing our current travel behavior: Private travel is hardly taking place at the moment - at the behest of the Federal Council and due to restrictions in many countries. The online portal Ebookers asked 1,000 Swiss people how the coronavirus crisis is affecting their travel plans for the coming months.
The majority of Swiss people are still planning private trips for this year: at the time of the survey, just over half (52%) were still planning to travel this summer. A fifth intend to travel later in the year (19%) or postpone trips already planned to a later date (21%). 16% each plan to spend their vacations in Switzerland this year or to book at short notice.
Destinations in Switzerland are likely to grow
The situation is also having an impact on the choice of destinations: a third of respondents say they want to spend more of their vacations in Switzerland after the coronavirus crisis. 24 % would like to visit more destinations in Europe. On the other hand, the desire for long-haul travel seems to be somewhat gone for many: 35 % state that they want to book fewer long-haul trips or stays in overseas destinations.
27% think that they will generally travel less in the current year and just under a third of respondents say that they intend to book their vacations at short notice in the coming months.
Solidarity with smaller hotels
The Swiss people surveyed show solidarity with SMEs: around one in two want to try to support smaller hotels and guesthouses in Switzerland and neighboring countries on future trips by taking them into account when making their bookings. 27% are planning intergenerational vacations for the time after the coronavirus crisis. One possible explanation is an increased need for contact with family members and grandparents or grandchildren after the period of isolation.
Many Swiss people will probably be spending their vacations in Switzerland this year.
Increasing need for security
The crisis also appears to be having an impact on the need for security: 48% of all respondents say they want to take out travel insurance in the future. Greater security also appears to be an issue in financial matters; only 18% - and significantly more men than women - plan to spend more money on their vacations in the coming months. A third are planning longer vacations or more vacation days - possibly to compensate for missed vacations in the first half of the year.
Book trips with appropriate booking flexibility
"Now that travel restrictions may begin to be eased, seeing family and friends again is key for many people. In the current situation, we strongly advise travelers to choose their travel offer in such a way that they have the greatest possible flexibility and can make use of the option to cancel or change at any time free of charge," recommends Claudia Parker, Head of PR at Ebookers.
The online travel portal Ebookers asked 1000 people in Switzerland in a representative survey. The complete study can be ordered free of charge at [email protected].
