Continued from page 48 The study found holiday
demand for Portugal, the one major destination on the initial green list, unchanged on pre-pandemic rates for short breaks and down by one fifth for holidays. Short-break demand for Greece was also unchanged. But demand for other
popular destinations was severely affected. Holiday demand was down by 66% for the Balearics, 63% for Italy, 60% for Cyprus and 71% for the US. Short-break demand was similarly low, with demand for France down 67% and mainland Spain down 55%. The research found only
a marginal fall in the duration of holidays respondents were intending to take and no change in the type of booking likely. However, there was a 10-point fall to 37% in the proportion intending to book a four or five-star hotel – although three out of five respondents (59%) still chose a hotel over other accommodation types. There was a four-point rise in
the proportion intending to stay with relatives or friends (11%) and a two-point rise in self-catering (9%), but no rise in intention to book Airbnb-style homestays (4%) or private villas (8%). BVA BDRC director Jon
Young said: “What’s notable is that these figures relate to the next 12 months, not just the summer period, which suggests hopes of an autumn or winter surge in bookings are misplaced.” However, he added: “It’s
possible the Indian variant has dampened intention and successful navigation of this strain will bump intention up.”
•For more information about BVA BDRC, visit: hcontent.
bva-bdrc.com/clearsight
‘Global support for vax passports spans 54%-85%’
A YouGov survey of major travel markets suggests overwhelming support for travel vaccination certificates or ‘vaccine passports’. YouGov surveyed consumers in
17 countries in the second half of April, asking whether international travellers should be required to
46 3 JUNE 2021
One in two Brits ‘would use vaccination passport’
Ian Taylor
One in two UK residents would be willing to adopt vaccination ‘passports’ for international travel, according to research by Surrey University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. However, half the population
remain undecided about the use of vaccination certificates or would be unwilling to use them. The university researchers
concluded: “It is clear issues pertaining to privacy and exclusion will need to be addressed.” The government has made both
digital and paper Covid-vaccination certificates available via the NHS App and helpline for entry to countries which require certification. However, these so far have limited application since they are not accepted in lieu of Covid-testing on return to the UK. Surrey University researchers
Professor Iis Tussyadiah, Dr Athina Ioannou and Professor Graham Miller undertook two pieces of research – an online survey of 1,000 UK residents in mid-May, and an analysis of social media between December and April which extracted ‘major themes’ from tweets using a type of analysis known as ‘topic modelling’. They concluded UK residents “have
a positive outlook on vaccine passports”, but reported that “about one-third” agreed “vaccine passports will restrict individual freedom, increase discrimi- nation and threaten privacy. “Half of those surveyed stated
they intend to use vaccine passports in general for travel and to go to pubs, restaurants and shops. Only 20% reported being unwilling to use them, with 30% undecided.”
Asked about their travel
intentions, “about one-third” of respondents reported an intention to travel domestically after ‘step three’ of the government’s reopening from May 24, and “more than half” to travel domestically after ‘step four’, due from June 21. The number intending to travel
overseas was smaller: 15% said they planned to travel internationally after May 24, rising to 25% after June 21. Professor Tussyadiah, acting
head of the school of hospitality and tourism management, noted “a weak but significant correlation” between those intending to travel and positive sentiment towards vaccine ‘passports’. Cabinet Office minister Michael
Gove, who is leading a review into a domestic certification scheme, revealed last week that the government has yet to decide whether to press ahead. Gove added that whatever is decided, certification would no longer be needed by “later this year or early next”. The EU insists it is on course to introduce a Digital Covid Certificate for travel from July 1.
have vaccination passports. The overwhelming majority agreed, with majorities in every country. India (85%) and Indonesia
(86%) recorded the highest rates of agreement, followed by Singapore (82%), Mexico (82%), China (80%) and Australia (79%). Three-quarters of respondents agreed in the UK (77%), the UAE (76%), Italy (75%) and Spain (74%), ahead of Denmark (71%) and Sweden (68%). Support fell below two-thirds
only in the US (62%), France (62%), Germany (61%), Hong
Kong (60%) and Poland (54%). Support varied by age. In the
UK, two-thirds of 18-34-year-olds favoured certificates compared with 79% of those aged 45-54 and 86% of those 55 and over. The support for Covid-19
certification for travellers may be double-edged, reflecting not only a desire to travel among those vaccinated but also a wish to bar entry to unvaccinated travellers. YouGov canvassed 500 to 2,000
respondents aged 18 and above in each of the 17 countries.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/ronstik
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
