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| Photo: Stephanie Berghaeuser/stock.xchng |
Travelers will be taking trips in the shoulder or off season to save money, according to consumer survey results from the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
Six out of ten Americans plan to vacation one hundred miles or more away from home during 2010. Of those, an average 45 percent said they would travel in the shoulder or off season to save money, reflecting the still tentative economy.
Of those Americans vacationing this year, a full 60 percent said they would consider taking a tour. When asked why, an average 40 percent cited the convenience of having everything arranged, outweighing other factors.
An average one out of three said they would take a tour to save money. Taking a tour for security reasons came in as the least important reason, according to the survey.
For most vacationers (60 percent), the major goal will be spending time with friends or family. Relaxation ranked second in importance, with seeing new sites ranking third. Significantly, in 2009 time with family ranked as the second most important quality in planning a vacation, after affordability.
Women valued spending time with family or friends higher than men as a vacation goal. Not surprisingly, the survey revealed that younger adults, aged 18-34 are significantly more likely than their older counterparts to vacation for the sake of having a new experience, and people with higher incomes and education are more likely to vacation this year. Previous surveys since 2008 have also revealed that those with higher incomes of $50,000+, have been consistently more likely to travel.
Source: USTOA
