More Nigerian air travelers are opting to travel to neigbouring countries like Ghana and Cotonou to book international flights after being forced to pay thrice cost of flights in  other countries to same destinations, Daily Sun can confirm.

Fares advertised on the websites of foreign airlines show that Nigerians now pay three times what travelers in other countries pay to the same destinations. Nigerian travelers now pay as high as N3, 000,000.00 to purchase an economy ticket while date changes on some airlines go as high as between N1, 500,000.00 to N1, 800,000.00. For business class tickets, passengers pay about N7 million.

In the past one year, foreign airlines removed lower inventory tickets on their website for travelers from Nigeria because they say they have been unable to repatriate funds generated from sale of tickets deposited in Nigerian banks. These airlines insist on getting their funds in foreign currency but owing to the biting forex scarcity, that has been difficult. They then took the decision to remove lower inventory tickets from their website, making cost of flights expensive for Nigerians.

To combat this, many Nigerian passengers now prefer travelling to countries like Ghana to book tickets at lower costs and this development has almost crippled the Nigerian travel industry leaving many travel agents losing their clients to the high cost of flight tickets.

“To put this in perspective, all low-fare inventories of the airlines have been deliberately blocked to our members and to this market. This now means, Nigeria is at a disadvantage since the airlines seems to have mastered the art of exploiting the forex issue to their advantage. Agencies are now forced to fold, leave the country or trying to use other neighboring countries to sell to their customers. Nigeria Travel market continues to be at the losing end with the airlines being indifferent to the plight of travelers and as a body we are left with no option than to call on the government to be more strategic, deliberate and direct in resolving this multifaceted dilemma.

“Just to be clear, in the aviation downstream sector, businesses are currently folding up and more will follow suit which will add to the unemployment challenge that the Federal Government is wrestling with if urgent and precise actions are not taken to nip this development in the bud before it is too late.

“The reaction of airlines is grossly unfair to the Nigerian travelling public, as well to us as a nation in general with a seeming disdain to the available cordial business relationship. This of course gravely threatens our survival as travel practitioners in Nigeria. The suffocating profiteering practices by majority of the foreign airlines is unbelievable and unexplainable in a Nigeria market that is ranked by many indices of IATA as one of the best in Africa and with the best post-covid recovery rates across Africa and Middle East, the Nigerian Market should be applauded, but the reverse is the case.

“For emphasis, being one of the biggest market for any airline that operates within it, we expect airlines to respect and appreciate the impact of the traffic our market offers and seek better ways to ensure there is mutual benefit in tandem with the current reality.  The trade rules are obnoxious, not consistent with global best practices and fares are unjustifiably high, all in reaction to trapped funds. We at this stage have reasons to believe there is more to it.

“We hold the stand that government still retains the responsibility to commit to agreements with airlines to protect the sector and call airlines to order when there are obvious excesses from the airlines that puts the entire industry in jeopardy; because the current fare structure and practices are exploitative to the Nigerian Traveler as well as agencies who provides a reasonable number of jobs for our great nation.

While stating Nigeria’s commitment to the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, he assured them that the ministry is concerned, and will do its best to resolve the matter of blocked funds as soon as possible.

He stated further that the issue of blocked funds sits with the Central Bank of Nigeria and it is not what the ministry can handle alone else it would have been resolved immediately and urged foreign operators to be very considerate when dealing with the issue bearing in mind the effects of COVID- 19 and recession the country had experienced.

IATA’s Area Manager, West and Central Africa, Dr. Samson Fatokun, who led the delegation expressed gratitude to the minister for his concern and said the global airline community would like to appeal to the him for special intervention in resolving of airline blocked funds issues in Nigeria. He said the airlines are facing the collateral damage and the average Nigeria is bearing the brunt of this issue.

At the meeting, Akporiaye said: “Is a very difficult time for us as some of us are already giving up on the industry and going into other business. It is our loss and also the loss of the country as we don’t sell more ticket like we use to, and this will further increase the unemployment situation if this issue is not attended to.”

Source: The Sun

Travel professionals at ITB Berlin 2023 are informed about the business opportunities and prospects offered in East Africa today.

In the presence of African joint venture partners, including a delegation accompanying the Ethiopian tourism minister, representatives of business and tourism organizations described possible ways in which these countries can profit from the expansion of long-haul tourism.

East African countries have a wealth of tourism highlights. Tourism attractions range from safari tours to gorillas in the wild in Uganda, as well as cultural sites in Ethiopia and the famous Nyungwe waterfalls in the national park of the same name in Rwanda. Kenya and Tanzania, together with the island of Zanzibar, are already popular destinations for German visitors. The majority of tourists use the services of well-known package tour providers, explained Dr. Martin Post from the German Travel Association (DRV). He forecasts a substantial recovery of the long-haul travel market. However, many people make their bookings at short notice, which complicates planning for the providers of such services.

Matthias Lemcke, vice president of the South and East Africa Working Group (ASA), described the advantages of his association, which includes tourism boards, airlines and tour operators. Part of his work involves visits by delegations from Germany to countries that have not had many international tourists. Among the events planned for 2023 is a tour to Angola. As a consultant and ASA member Guido Bürger explained that tour operators with a unique selling point can also find opportunities, alongside established suppliers of package tours, for example by offering bird spotting or culinary events. However, growing numbers of travellers are making their bookings online or, if they are familiar with a country, they put all the components of their trip together themselves. Digitalisation provides an opportunity for small and medium sized businesses, and in some East African countries they can to some extent have access to funding programmes such as those offered by the World Bank or the GIZ.

The East Africa Tourist Visa, known as EATV for short, is designed to make travellers‘ lives easier. So far it is valid for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. More countries may be included in the future. All three countries can be visited with one visa, which is valid for 90 days and entitles the holder to multiple entries.

Kenya

Over the past few years, Kenya has slowly but steadily been rebuilding its tourism sector.  Kenya’s major activities include holiday travel at 68 per cent, business travel at 18 per cent and transit at 14 per cent. Tourism arrivals for the year 2018 were recorded at 2.025 million. The challenges for Kenya include globalization which is leading to the creation of uniform standards and protocols, and the heavy taxation of the sector, among others.

Uganda

The country has branded itself as “Gifted by Nature” with many tourist attractions, including wildlife, nature, geography, culture, heritage and good weather all year around. Uganda witnessed a 7.4 per cent increase in international tourist arrivals in 2018, with the numbers growing from 1,402,409 persons in 2017 to 1,506,669 arrivals in 2018.

Rwanda

Tourism revenue recorded a 76 per cent decline from $498 million in 2019 to $121 million in 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions.

In 2021, Rwanda’s tourism revenues were $164 million, a 25 per cent increase from $131 million in 2020. The country welcomed more than 512,000 international visitors in 2021.

Source: FTN News

The pandemic cost destinations worldwide a combined $270 billion in Chinese outbound tourist spending in 2020 and 2021 alone.

Leading a high-level delegation to the city of Hangzhou to join in the official re-opening, UNWTO Secretary-General warmly welcomed the lifting of travel restrictions as a major boost to economic growth and social opportunity both in Asia and the Pacific and globally.

According to UNWTO data, the pandemic cost destinations worldwide a combined US$270 billion in Chinese outbound tourist spending in 2020 and 2021 alone. The re-opening of borders therefore represents “the moment the world has been waiting for”, Mr Pololikashvili noted.

The UNWTO Secretary-General is the first UN Head of Agency to visit China since restrictions were lifted. China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping welcomed UNWTO’s support throughout the pandemic and for joining the official re-opening celebrations. In a bilateral meeting, Minister Hu Heping and Secretary-General Pololikashvili agreed to further deepen their collaboration around positioning tourism on the agenda for international development cooperation and in the key areas of tourism education and tourism for rural development.

According to UNWTO data, China grew to be the biggest tourism source market in the world prior to the pandemic. In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel, while domestic tourism served as a pillar of growth and employment, with more than 6 billion trips that year alone, supporting jobs and businesses across the country.

Tourism for rural development

Reflecting UNWTO’s work to make tourism a driving force of rural development, the high-level delegation was welcomed to Yucun, one of four Chinese destinations to be recognized among the ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’. The village was awarded the recognition for its commitment to making tourism a source of local opportunity, in addition to its commitment to eco-friendly tourism and pioneering approach to waste management at the destination-level.

Public and private sectors re-think tourism

UNWTO was welcomed as a partner of the Xianghu Dialogue, organized by the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) in the city of Hangzhou. Held around the theme of “A New Paradigm for a New Tourism”, the event brought together public and private sector leaders to re-think the sector’s future around the key priorities of sustainability, equality and resilience.

Key topics addressed over the two days included promoting collaborative tourism development amongst countries and regions, international cooperation and poverty reduction through tourism, smart connectivity, destination management and planning, and innovation and new business models. The UNWTO delegation met with private sector leaders, including from the Chinese global technology company Alibaba, which is headquartered in Hangzhou.

China as key tourism partner

In the past year, China has established itself as a leading supporter of UNWTO in several core priority areas. These include Nature Positive Tourism, which UNWTO placed on the agenda of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), for which China served as President.

UNWTO will return to China in September for the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF), to be held in Macau. The tenth edition of the Forum will again provide a platform for governments, business leaders, experts, and academics to advance shared plans for the sustainable development of tourism.

Full Article E-Turbo News

Africa’s tourism sector was on an upward track, with an average growth rate of 5%, when Covid-19 hit, creating upheaval to the world economy and, in particular to the tourism sector. The silver lining in the last 24-36 months has been how partnerships and teamwork have accelerated recovery in the tourist sector.

The importance of tourism, particularly in Africa, cannot be overstated since it provides an extraordinary potential to alter the lives of many people on the continent, vanguardngr.com reported.

One of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry is meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector. This is an area in Africa that can assist to maintain the continent’s economy. Considering the massive benefits and ROI that it creates, it might be highly beneficial for the tourism business.

The Global Travel & Tourism Council believes that the worldwide travel and tourism business is worth $7 trillion. The worldwide MICE sector is projected to be worth between US$650 billion and US$700 billion, a sizable sum. Africa is expected to have a meagre 2% market share.

The vanguardngr website cites that the startling statistics presented above is only the top of the iceberg, with many further multiplier efforts that are incalculable. The picture provides a compelling case for Africa to include MICE in its tourism, economic, and trade goals.

Meetings Africa, a platform founded by South African Tourism, has been a powerful tool in mobilising the business events industry. In its 17th year, the event has seen the biggest number of African participants, as well as other innovations to create the industry’s new way of doing things. It is refreshing and encouraging for the continent to witness a spike in decision-makers’ recognition of MICE to boost its economy.

305 exhibitors representing 15 African countries have confirmed their participation in the Meetings Africa 2023. They will have the opportunity to interact with thousands of buyers from around the world. The countries represented are Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique.

According to South African Tourism Acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, the increase in the number of African exhibitors is an indication that leaders throughout Africa recognize the business events industry as vital to their economy. “As Africa’s economy shifts towards a technological future characterized by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more nations are building their business events industries to attract foreign investors and businesses.”

Meetings Africa 2023 will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 27 February to 1 March bringing together 350 exhibitors and more than 1,000 buyers to the trading floor.

Meetings Africa 2022 will feature enlightening discussions on all three days, with speakers focused on crafting a good African narrative, the future of meetings, and the issues corporate events face because to a lack of airlift in Africa.

Meetings Africa will once again provide an excellent chance to help the continent’s tourism rebound.

Source: Travel and Tour

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has been recognized as the African Cargo Airport of the year at STAT Trade Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday in Johannesburg South Africa.

The award recognizes JKIA’s exceptional performance in cargo infrastructure, systems, and services and its commitment to excellence in air transport services.

The African Cargo Airport of the Year award gives JKIA the impetus to compete against some of the most established and busiest cargo airports on the continent.

The win enhances its reputation in cargo handling and air transport services.

“We are extremely proud to receive this prestigious award, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at JKIA,” Kenya Airports Authority managing director Alex Gitari said.

“This achievement is a reflection of our commitment to providing world-class cargo infrastructure, systems, and services, and we are honored to be recognized as a top-performing cargo airport in Africa.”

KPA has in recent years invested heavily in infrastructure and systems at JKIA through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

JKIA was positioned as preferred airport for handling perishables, pharmaceuticals, horticulture, and live animals.

The STAT Trade Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo is one of the most prestigious awards in the air cargo industry, recognising excellence in air cargo services, logistics, and transportation worldwide.

Source: Zurulink Africa

A packed events schedule and bustling tourism season has led to a 30 per cent price surge and limited availability for hotel rooms across Dubai.

With many hotels at close to 100 per cent occupancy this week due to conferences and the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships, visitors without a booking faced sky-high prices.

The trend is set to continue, hotel managers told The National.

School holidays in the UK, Europe and the UAE all fall during Ramadan this year, creating a boom in demand.

It was the first time all nine Rove Hotels achieved 100 per cent occupancy on the same day, and we expect that to be repeated

Paul Bridger, chief operating officer, Rove Hotels

Gulfood at Dubai World Trade Centre attracted tens of thousands into the city this week, with more piling in to attend the Step Conference tech event at Internet City.

Dubai is also filling up with spillover from the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi.

The Rove Hotel group has nine properties in Dubai, with each fully booked for consecutive days, a first for the mid-market chain.

“Occupancy levels across the city are very high at the moment,” said Paul Bridger, chief operating officer.

“It was the first time all Rove Hotels achieved 100 per cent occupancy on the same day, and we expect that to be repeated.”

Ibis One Central, a short walk from the Dubai World Trade Centre conference venue, has a standard twin room with breakfast available for Dh1,498 on Thursday night.

By comparison, a Thursday stay only two weeks later is priced at Dh333 for a standard Queen room.

Properties with high leisure contributions are attracting higher demand due to Easter holidays, mostly from the Russian-speaking Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and western Europe.

Figures from industry analytics company STR released on Thursday showed the average hotel room last month cost Dh781 ($212).

At 80.5 per cent, hotel occupancy last month was almost 10 per cent higher than the 71.5 per cent recorded for the same month in 2022.

Thomas Kurian, hotel manager at Leva Hotels, said occupancy rates were currently the highest the year so far.

“Due to the heightened demand for hotel accommodation during this period, our hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road close to the World Trade Centre has experienced a significant surge in prices, amounting to 40-50 per cent on previous weeks,” he said.

“Similarly, a comparable trend in occupancy and rates has been observed across many other hotel areas around World Trade Centre, Business Bay and Downtown Dubai.

“There has been a noticeable uptick in both occupancy rates and booking trends.”

Upcoming public holidays

Mr Kurian said bookings for Ramadan, Easter and Eid showed the positive trend was likely to continue.

Dubai’s hospitality sector enjoyed a strong 2022 as tourism rebounded after the Covid pandemic.

To keep pace with demand, an extra 48,000 new rooms will become available in the UAE by 2030, with Dubai providing 76 per cent of total supply.

Last year, 14.36 million international visitors arrived in the emirate, according to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism data, with The Palm Jumeirah a popular destination.

Several new hotels have opened recently on the man-made island, including a new Marriott and Hilton on Palm West Beach.

With public holidays due to begin in a few weeks, the busy period is expected to continue.

“During the holy month of Ramadan, we expect our hotels to be busy, as well as benefit from strong group demand and family leisure business during some of the best weeks for weather in the year,” said Aligi Gardenghi, vice president, operations, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton.

“We expect continued strong performance at our 35 hotels in the UAE in the coming months.”

Source: National News

After a 2022 year of record momentum in the tourism sector and airline development, the North African country will continue to make great efforts this year

Tourism in Morocco in 2022 was consolidated as the second best in both the African continent and the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa Region), second only to Egypt, according to the USNews ranking. The Kingdom is a Muslim country located in the northwest wing of the African continent, with its coastline washed by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Less than an hour’s ferry ride from Spain, Morocco is a unique blend of Arab, Berber, African and European cultural influences. In addition, the Kingdom is considered the “Gateway to Europe”, making it one of the 40 countries with the highest tourism impact in the world.

The “Connect 2023” conference, held in Tangier until 24 February, provided an overview of all the major projects undertaken by Morocco to develop the tourism and aviation industries. The Connect 2023 conference, which concluded in Tangier, once again brought Morocco to the attention of key aviation players and travel professionals. Les Inspirations Eco listed two areas in which Morocco operates in the Friday 24 February edition. According to indicators reported by several national officials in charge of these strategic sectors, the Moroccan kingdom is on the verge of matching its performance before the COVID-19 crisis and is even doing better than during the pandemic period.

Adel El Fakir, general manager of ONMT (Moroccan National Tourism Office), said: “By the end of 2022, the number of airlines in Morocco has surpassed pre-crisis levels. Last year, the number of tourists also reached 10.9 million. Rabat intends to take a step forward by highlighting its new iconic tourist attractions”. The projected target for 2023 in capacity is 8.2 million seats. To this end, a series of agreements and partnerships have recently been signed between the ONMT and several airlines. This will see the launch of 35 new routes serving eight Moroccan destinations by the summer of 2023 in partnership with ten companies.

After two years of limits due to COVID-19, demand for hotels at the end of the year was strong, reaching pre-pandemic levels. The good news never stopped coming to the Alawi kingdom. Since February, the Moroccan government has announced the opening of airspace under pressure from numerous experts and economic operators, a fact that subsequent data have backed up. Moreover, this year the Moroccan national team made history by becoming the first African or Arab country to reach the semi-finals of the world’s biggest football tournament, the World Cup, and as a result the country’s growing popularity has spurred efforts to revive the tourism industry in the wake of the COVID-19 economic crisis.

A report published in early December last year by Morocco’s state-owned Al-Oula highlighted the positive impact of the World Cup on the country’s attractiveness as an international tourism hub. A tourism report in Fez, one of Morocco’s cultural capitals, shows an increase in tourist activity since the end of the World Cup. “The national team has really helped improve its image and the image of the country,” Aziz Labar, president of the Fes Regional Tourism Organisation, told Al-Oula. Morocco aims to pick up the pace by highlighting its new iconic tourist attractions. The projected target for 2023 in capacity is 8.2 million seats.

“To this end, a series of agreements and partnerships have recently been signed between the ONMT and several airlines. Thus, 35 new routes serving eight Moroccan destinations will be launched by the summer of 2023 in partnership with ten companies. For its part, the National Airports Office (ONDA) has launched an ambitious programme to increase airport capacity, focusing on service quality and safety requirements. The country’s airport network currently has a capacity of 39 million passengers per year and is expected to grow further,” said Habiba Laklalech, director general of the agency. 

ONDA mobilised an amount of around 4 billion dirhams in 2023 to support the growth of the activity of the airports of Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier. Habiba Laklalech, as director of the agency, stressed that the “Envol 2025” investment plan aims to support the development of tourism. Objective 2030: 60 million passengers. In addition to protecting and preserving Europe’s traditional tourist markets, the focus is now on the massive influx of tourists from Asia, especially China. “COVID-19 has certainly slowed the momentum of travel links with the Chinese market, but air travel and tourism managers can catch up,” the publication concluded. 

Source: Atalayar

NAIROBI, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Kenya’s tourism industry, one of the East African nation’s top sources of hard currency, surged 83% in 2022 to 268 billion shillings ($2.13 billion) as COVID curbs eased, the government said on Wednesday.

Visitors rebounded to 72% of their pre-pandemic level in 2019, Tourism Minister Peninah Malonza told reporters, outpacing the rest of the continent which stands at 65% of the pre-pandemic level.

Kenya offers beach holidays along its Indian Ocean coastline and wildlife safaris inland. The Unites States was the main source of visitors during the year, Malonza said, followed by Uganda, Britain and Tanzania.

China, which had been a growing source market before the pandemic struck, started to ease travel restrictions this year.

Kenyan authorities will focus their marketing efforts on emerging markets like Rwanda, Nigeria and Ethiopia, Malonza said.

Tourism earnings are projected to rise to 425 billion shillings ($3.37 billion) this year, said David Gitonga, chief executive of the state Tourism Research Institute, before increasing to 540 billion shillings in 2027.

But the sector is also facing serious challenges, said Kareke Mbiuki, chairman of parliament’s tourism and wildlife committee, citing cuts for infrastructure required by the sector, part of a broader austerity drive by the government.

The country is also facing a severe drought, Malonza said.

Hilton (HLT.N) closed its 50-year-old hotel in downtown Nairobi at the start of this year, in a further sign of the problems facing the sector that contributes a tenth of Kenya’s annual economic output.

Source: Reuters

The U.S. Travel Association is calling on the Biden administration to enhance efforts to boost international visitation to the U.S. amid a declining trade surplus.

Citing new data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the organization points out that the trade surplus dropped to just $4 billion last year, down from an all-time high of $85.9 billion in 2015.

In response, U.S. Travel is now calling for urgent federal action to rebuild inbound travel and reverse the disconcerting trade surplus trend.

One of the steps outlined is taking further action to lower visitor visa interview wait times, which continue to exceed an average of 400 days for first-time applicants in the top 10 visa-requiring inbound markets.

U.S. Travel is also urging the government to end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international visitors to the U.S. and address inefficiencies in the air travel system as part of the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization.

“Travel has historically generated an annual trade surplus that meaningfully reduced the U.S. trade deficit,” U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement. “The latest trade data is a wake-up call for immediate federal action to boost this essential industry and increase travel exports to benefit the entire U.S. economy.”

“It’s no coincidence that the industry’s highest trade surplus occurred at a time when the federal government was making a concerted effort to increase inbound travel,” added Freeman. “Facilitating more inbound travel—and effectively lowering the overall trade deficit—should be a top economic priority for the Biden administration.”

The Biden administration previously set a goal of attracting 90 million international visitors and $279 billion in spending annually by 2027.

Source: Travel Pulse

Experts believe that Gen Z is playing such a crucial role in shaping how we all consume, buy and engage with brands.

This is the generation, colloquially known as zoomers, born between 1997 and early 2012 – a highly adaptable age group with the oldest turning 26; and the youngest 11 this year.

Travel experts are of the view that different generations approach travel differently – especially incoming younger generations.

“They’ve got varying priorities, values, and overall outlook on what they want to get from their travels and it’s the Gen Z traveller that is actively redefining what it means to travel that in turn will affect the economy, businesses, and people across the globe,” David Shevil, group head of marketing for Premier Hotels & Resorts said.

“It’s hard to say with any kind of certainty, but there are some noteworthy trends that are already taking hold.”

Gen Z travel trends in 2023

Gen Z characteristics: 82% said they trust a company more if it uses images of actual customers, giving them a chance to see a new place through the eyes of locals.

Gen Z purchasing behaviour: 68% read multiple reviews before making a purchase.

Gen Z money habits: Experiences matter as 65% of Gen Z respondents said they would rather take a dream vacation than purchase a new car.

Gen Z leisure behaviour: 97% use social media as their primary source of inspiration so make sure you’re on the right channels. TikTok is becoming the most popular form of social media being used by Gen Z.

“This travel segment has increased by as much as 30% from previous years and we are seeing more and more Gen Z travellers and guests searching our website for travel deals,” Shevil said.

He added that Generation Z has big travel plans for 2023. “These young travellers prefer solo travel over travelling with friends and appreciate great culture in affordable destinations rather than luxury resorts,” Shevil said.

He also quoted the European Travel Commission which explained that young travellers are more likely to:

– Return and add more value to destinations over time.

– Discover new destinations.

– Incorporate technology on their trips.

– Gain personal cultural benefits and contribute to the places that they visit.

– Commonly known as life enthusiasts, they are more likely to return to a destination over time due to their focus on the quality of travel accommodation (their self-reward) and the type of shopping and nightlife while on holiday.

Explore the unexplored

As immersive explorers, Shevil said there’s a growing desire from Gen Z to explore the unexplored. “They want to know where they can go that hasn’t already been covered. But what exactly do those travel changes look like?”

He added that it’s worth noting that Gen Z adventurers are travelling because they may find the next place to expand business.

“This is a reason that brand-new tourism hubs have begun to arise providing new opportunities,” Shevil said.

He also believes that for Gen Z, the journey is just as important as the destination.

“They value a high-end travel experience where all of their needs are met on a flexible timeline, avoiding the hassles of commercial travel,” he said.

“Basically, they want to start their vacation as soon as they leave for the airport.”

Shevil added that if businesses want to gain Gen Z’s attention, they need to work on improving their user experience and prioritise treating them as an individual audience.

Technology rules

Having been born into a world of 24/7 access to the internet, Shevil said that Gen Z is the most digital-savvy generation, with an intuitive knack for all things tech.

“Much like most other industries, travel has seen some incredibly convenient technology-based innovations in recent years. If there’s an app that makes travel easier, Gen Z is highly likely to make up a large portion of that app’s most frequent users.”

“They’re booking their accommodations, checking flights, and finding amazing deals on travel with the help of technology.”

Meanwhile, Shevil said that this prioritisation of technology should be a hint to other industries to get on board.

“If your business is still missing an app or has an unreliable website, you’re losing your Gen Z audience,” he said.

“They’re always using their devices, which means you need to meet them where they are and ensure you’re optimising everything for mobile.”

A new generation of values-based travel behaviour

With new generations come new values and ideals, Shevil believes that Gen Z is no different. “In fact, value-based decisions are a defining attribute of this generation and one that guides its travel decisions. Gen Z is doing travel differently – it’s not just about the destination, after all – the journey is just as important.”

He added that Gen Z is also more likely to give back to a community or a purpose. “They’re more concerned with volunteering, eco-tourism, or attractions that partner with local causes than other demographics.”

He explained that one theory to explain this is that Gen Z grew up with an awareness of climate change and caring for the planet, so they are likely to focus more on sustainability, ethics, inclusivity, and responsible travel.

“And 72% said they’re more likely to buy from a company that contributes to social causes.”

Meanwhile, according to Telus International, Gen Z is more concerned about sustainability than previous generations when it comes to travelling.

“56% said they’d want to stay in green or eco-friendly accommodations, and 60% are looking for more environmentally friendly means of transportation once they arrive.”

“54% of Gen Zers say they’re willing to pay higher rates to use a travel service provider that demonstrates environmental responsibility, compared to 48% of millennials,” Telus International said.

Shevil added that the power of a strong media presence, effective online communication, and personalised customer service and support cannot be understated when working with this audience.

“With each generation, travel is shaped in a new way and as Gen Z’s habits and preferences grow in prevalence, so will their impact on travel, and that impact is likely to change business for years to come,” he said.

“If you pay attention now, you may be ahead of the curve.”

Source: IOL