Destinations in Asia and Oceania are also benefitting from positive sentiment amongst survey respondents from most parts of the world, while some other destinations are favoured by some regions but not others.
The survey from the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) garnered 193 respondents between March 25 and April 6, splitting them into four geographic regions – the USA, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world, which included respondents from Canada, Oceania, Mexico, Central and South America, Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Gulf states.
The largest response group was from the USA, followed by Europe, the rest of the world and then Asia, which drew just 17 responses.
The sentiment check found, unsurprisingly, a unanimous and significant drop in positive sentiment for travel to the Gulf states in the Middle East – with the drop the most pronounced amongst US respondents, followed by Europeans and the rest of the world group, with the drop in travel intent to the Middle East the smallest amongst Asian respondents.
Europe was the only destination which received a universal rising sentiment in terms of a positive intent to travel, with a small rise amongst the rest of the world cohort, a moderate rise amongst US respondents and the largest rise amongst Asian respondents. But it was Europeans themselves that indicated the strongest desire for European travel, apparently keen to stay close to home in the current circumstances.
Meanwhile intent to travel to the US was down amongst all groups except for its own residents, with US respondents, like Europeans, evidencing a desire to stay close to home. US respondents also strongly favoured the Caribbean – even more so than staying at home – as well as Canada though to a lesser extent. Interestingly Mexico and Central and South America got a net falling intent to travel from US respondents.
Canada received the highest score of the survey in terms of intent to travel from those based in Europe, indicating a stronger preference for Canada even over staying in Europe. Canada also garnered a significantly positive intent to travel from the rest of the world cohort, but a negative response from Asia.
Both Asia and Oceania received positive intent to travel responses from all groups except the USA. Respondents based in Asia also indicated a rising intent to stay local.
Europeans and the “rest of the world” cohort exhibited the strongest intent to consider destinations in Oceania, with Asia also expressing positive sentiment for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
