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| Saturday, 13 November 2004 |
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Business travellers give 'Thumbs up' to value for money, downgrade security From Chandani Jayatilleke at WTM, London Business travellers are more concerned about upgrades than security, according to a World Report on Travel. "Nearly a quarter of business travellers would fly more often if they were guaranteed upgrades and over a third are tempted by cheaper fares," the Global Travel Report 2004/5 which was launched at the World Travel Market (WTM) London stated. The report said the Corporate Air Travel Survey conducted online in August this year, by aviation analysts - Airclaims - in cooperation with several international airlines, polled over 450 frequent business travellers. The findings in the report also highlighted most business travellers were unconcerned about safety issues, but instead wanted value for money and greater comfort on flights. "Some 24 percent business travellers would travel more often if upgrades were on offer and 35 percent would fly more frequently if airline prices were cheaper," it said. Only six percent of the business travellers wanted better schedules, while 11 percent wanted more frequent flyer programs. Just three percent were concerned about on-board security while two percent wanted good overall security, according to the survey. Business travellers polled also said they were concerned about excessive taxes, the hassle of delays and the downgrading of service to reduce costs. Although only a small number said improved security would encourage them to travel more often, only 30 percent said they were comfortable flying to the Middle East. Some 90 percent were happy flying in Europe while 76 percent would have no problems travelling to Asia-Pacific and 72 percent to the US, the report said. Business travel to grow The report predicts that business travel out of Europe is set to grow next year after a stagnant period in 2004. Based on the first eight months of this year, the number of business trips in 2004 is expected to rise one percent from the 2003 figure of 48 million. The report also revealed that global tourism is increasing rapidly with worldwide arrivals rising 12 percent to around 526 million in the first eight months of 2004, compared with the same period of the last year. Figures unveiled in the World Travel Market Global Report 2004/05, revealed all regions of the world benefited from the trend with the Asia Pacific region recording the most impressive growth, up 37 percent to 99 million arrivals, albeit from depressed levels in 2003. Other strong performers were the Middle East, which followed up a three percent rise in 2003 with growth levels of 24 percent to 23 million arrivals. International tourism arrivals to the US grew 12 percent to 85 million after two years of decline while arrivals to Africa rose nine percent to two million and Europe managed a relatively modest growth of three percent to 296 million. Touring to Europe, outbound tourism presents a more mixed picture, stated the report. "Based on the first eight months of 2004, the number of outbound trips for the year is set to rise by four percent from the 2003 figure of 338 million. Overnight stays are expected to drop four percent to 3.3 billion while spending per trip is expected to fall one percent from 1993 figure of 917 Euros per person. Total spending for 2004 is forecast to rise two percent from last year's $ 310 billion. Short-haul travel from Europe for 2004 will grow three percent while long-haul trips will rise by 12 percent. This contrasted with 2003, when short-haul grew at the expense of long-haul as people preferred to travel closer to home and for shorter stays, perhaps due to increased fear of terrorism. From Europe, the number of holidays taken in 2004 is expected to rise 10 percent from the 1993 figure of 230 million; business travel will fall one percent from 48 million and the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market will fall 10 percent from 60 million last year, when VFR market was very strong. The report also said Brits are more likely to use the internet to book travel than the French or Germans. Through internet travellers are likely to get better and cheaper deals. Another development according to the report is that US citizens are at last putting their fears of flying behind them and increasing the number of trips they take abroad. And the demand for travel is being driven by the so-called Generation X, Americans born between 1965 and 1980. |
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