A report released by WYSE Travel Confederation revealed that flight bookings via mobile phones have doubled in the last year, and that 80% of travellers are influenced by travel reviews.
The Millennial Traveller Report is part of a series that analyses travel behaviour and identifies a number of trends amongst more than 7 600 travellers aged between 18 and 30 from over 100 countries, who were polled earlier this year.
The key findings of the first report showed that 7% of respondents had booked a flight by mobile phone or tablet compared to 3,8% in WYSE Travel Confederation’s New Horizons study, published in 2013. Family and friends were also shown to be the most influential source of travel information for 67% of travellers, 80% feel travel reviews influence their decisions, with 56% posting online reviews after a trip.
Other travel behaviour showed that 12,5% reported experiencing difficulties related to visa regulations when travelling. The report identified Australia and the US as the preferred next trip destinations, each at 11%, followed by the UK at 8%.
Top travel motivators are to experience everyday life in another country and increase knowledge, while relaxing and being calm are at the bottom of the travel to-do list. Features, such as tasty food and friendly locals, underline the millennial traveller’s desire for local experiences.
Speaking at WTM, David Chapman, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation, said: “Young travellers of the millennial generation represent 20% of international travellers. By 2020, 320 million international trips are expected to be made by youth travellers each year, a staggering 47% increase from 217 million in 2013.
“Through regular insights into the millennial traveller’s attitude to travel, such as that provided by our new Millennial Traveller Report, WYSE Travel Confederation aims to help provide the travel community with the tools it needs to understand this fast-growing and increasingly influential market.”
The Millennial Traveller Report is available here.
