Tag Archives: Travel Consul

Travel Consul’s global survey with travel advisors shows that the length of stay for international trips has more than doubled between October 2020 and February 2021. While in October last year, the length of stay was anywhere between 1 to 7 days, this year in February, the same ranged between 8 to 14 days.

According to a recent survey by Travel Consul, to study the impact of COVID-19 on the industry and the future recovery of global travel distribution, there could be a 67% drop in business volume (revenue) in Q1 2021 compared to the same period in 2019-2020. More than 1,000 travel executives (tour operators and agency owners) participated from more than 20 countries in the global survey.

There is a 5% increase in full-time work and layoffs in September as compared to June, reveals a Travel Consul Survey titled Global Travel Distribution- COVID-19 Impact’. 36% respondents informed that they moved from full time to part time, while  26% travel professionals said that they have laid-off majority of their team.

Focusing on inbound traffic from the USA, Alan Merschen, Partner (International Insights) at MMGY Global and Chairperson, Travel Consul, speaking at the 5th TravTalk Digital Conclave, shared, “Over 90% of American tourists will be open to explore new destinations. It is really a time to keep communicating and not ‘wait and see’. The Indian travel trade needs to think quality, not quantity. There might be fewer trips but longer trips. Don’t think about the number of visitors but the revenue you are earning.”

A recent Travel Consul survey that analyses the impact and outlook of the COVID-19 outbreak on tour operators and agency owners suggests that at least 42 per cent of the businesses surveyed will not be able to sustain themselves for more than three months in the absence of any government intervention. While a meagre 3 per cent of the respondents said that they have a chance of survival for a period of 7-10 months, those who will be able to sustain themselves for a longer period in the absence of government intervention made up only 12 per cent of the total respondents.

A Travel Consul study reveals that agents, while they wish to create partnerships with new buyers and suppliers, and diversify their product offerings, they will considerably refrain from increasing their marketing & advertising spend (45% respondents) and offering price reductions (37% respondents). The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed travel businesses to alter their products, enhance their reach, modify their policies and much more. With online travel agencies not being able to cope with consumer grievances on booking cancellations, refunds, etc., during the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, it was the traditional travel agent who came to his clients’ rescue. Now, it seems, people feel safer booking with their friendly neighbourhood travel agent rather than going through the online booking process, especially when COVID-19 has turned the industry upside down.

A Travel Consul survey that analyses the impact and outlook of the COVID-19 outbreak on tour operators and agency owners suggests that at least 42% of the businesses surveyed will not be able to sustain themselves for more than three months in the absence of government intervention. A meagre 3% said they have a chance of survival for 7-10 months.

The leading international travel marketing alliance, Travel Consul reveals that while lockdowns and movement restrictions had brought business to a standstill, tourism stakeholders (46%) kept clients engaged through live chats – the most preferred mode of communication amongst all the technology available today. These virtual face-to-face interactions were followed closely by a mix of telephone calls, emails and social media participation.

A recent survey by Travel Consul, the leading international travel marketing alliance, reveals that to ensure their survival amid the COVID-19 pandemic, most travel trade stakeholders in India (43%) have had to adjust their business model to changing times by focusing more on training programmes (40%) and investing in technology for enhancing both product and customer service (35%). Stakeholders have resorted to improving their current products, designing new products, examining new destinations as well as audiences, and strengthened customer service while even improving the supply base.

When asked what it is that destination management organisations can do to facilitate business growth for their partner travel agents and tour operators, most respondents (83%) cited introduction of a health and safety certification as the most important criteria. The survey was conducted by Travel Consul, a leading international travel marketing alliance.