Global uncertainty and concerns about fuel shortages have failed to dampen enthusiasm for travel, according to the newly released Allianz Partners Global Travel Confidence Index, even as cost concerns reshape how tourists are exploring the world.
Nearly three-quarters of surveyed consumers from around the world (74%), said they’re still planning a summer holiday this year. However, the index found that sector is being increasingly reshaped by economic pressure, geopolitical uncertainty and changing consumer priorities.
The research, which covered 10 key markets, including China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United States, paints a picture of a global traveller who is adapting rather than retreating, with 42% of respondents saying they plan to vacation domestically.
Rising costs remain a defining challenge for travellers across all countries, with 77% concerned about price inflation. However, 82% of all respondents said they “desperately need a holiday.”
Rather than cancelling travel, the survey found that consumers are making deliberate, value-based choices. Three in five were cutting non-essential spending elsewhere, while nearly half said they were “thoughtfully scaling back” their holiday plans to afford to travel.
“What we are seeing is not a decline in travel demand, but a clear evolution in how people travel. This is a more conscious traveller, but also a more resilient one, that is reshaping the entire travel landscape,” said Anna Kofoed, chief officer of global strategic Partnerships at Allianz Partners.
“Travel has become essential to how we recharge, reconnect, and care for ourselves,” she said.
However, global instability remains a concern for travellers, with 72% citing it as a factor in their travel plans. Delays and cancellations were a concern for 59% of respondents, while health concerns loom large for 57%.
Of those surveyed who planned to purchase travel insurance, 85% said they were motivated by peace of mind and unforeseen disruptions.
Overall, younger travellers expressed more anxiety about travelling this year than older travellers, with 63% of travellers under 35 concerned about illness compared to only 48% of travellers over 50. Younger travellers were also about 20% more concerned about climate crises, lost luggage or travel documents and public health emergencies.
