Saga, the travel specialist for over-50s has issued its travel predictions for over-50s in 2022, the result of in-depth research with nearly 3,000 of its customers.
Nick Stace, CEO of Saga Travel, said: “Our research shows that Saga customers are looking forward to travelling in 2022. They’ll take all precautions necessary and expect others to do the same, but they want to get back to holidaying as they used to and they’re looking for new experiences as part of that. We’ve all realised that it is important to take every opportunity and live life to the fullest and our customers are a real testament to that.”
Some key findings:
- 64% say that travel is important or very important in 2022 with 56% already having plans in place to travel in the first half of the year.
- UK breaks are the most popular with 55%, European breaks preferred by 32%, while long-haul is favoured by 24%.
- Health precautions and good insurance that covers the key financial, medical and safety needs remain the biggest drivers of confidence in travel at 89% and 67% effectively
- More emphasis has been put on fellow travellers’ behaviours such as testing for travel and appropriate safety measures (up seven per cent since September 2021 to 58% from 51%).
- 64% aren’t planning to wait for things to return completely to normal before travelling.
- There has been a drop of 12% since September (from 61% to 49%) in people thinking covid tests are too expensive.
- 59% want to return to holidaying as they did before Covid, with 58% looking for a relaxing holiday.
- More than half (52%) want to visit new destinations and a quarter want to meet new people (25%), try a multi-destination holiday (25%) and explore new cultures (24%).
- Half (51%) want to take the opportunity to see a natural phenomenon such as the Northern Lights. Nearly 80% of over-50s (79%) identify themselves as wildlife lovers with 67% putting whale-watching at the top of their must-see list, followed by big cats (52%), rare or unusual birds (49%), bears (48%) and turtles (45%).
- 70% are likely to holiday with a partner, followed by 22% with family, 21% on their own, 15% with a friend or 12% with a group of friends.
- Of those planning to travel with friends, 41% want to do so to create great memories, 25% because life is precious and it’s important to see each other, 19% because they’ve missed seeing them (or being able to) and 6% to mark a special occasion. While of those travelling with partners, friends or on their own, it’s to celebrate a birthday (15%) or anniversary (9%).
- Over-50s like a treat while they’re on holiday, with 51% prepared to indulge in local delicacies or activities, 39% and 37% respectively, would upgrade their flight or hotel, while nearly 30% (29% and 27% respectively) will go shopping or visit a spa.
- Nearly a quarter (22%) are prepared to splash out on a bottle or two of fizz.
For more information, please visit Saga.co.uk.
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