NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


This crisis ‘has a silver lining’


The pandemic is prompting more older travellers to say they will book through a travel agent, according to Silver Travel Advisor’s annual industry report. Ben Ireland reports


F


urther evidence of a marked swing towards the use of travel agents by older holidaymakers has


been revealed in a new piece of research on the sector. Silver Travel Advisor’s 2021


Industry Report, which surveyed more than 2,300 older travellers, found 49% would use a travel agent ‘to book a holiday that involves more than just a flight or a hotel booking’. This figure has risen from 36% in


January 2020, the last time the annual report was published. Visiting an agent in person


was the preference of 25% of respondents, up from 14% last year – before Covid-19 lockdowns. The report found that financial


security, flexible cancellation arrangements and health and safety reassurance are the biggest influences on this market’s choice of travel company, while destinations will be chosen according to their Covid rating, flight frequency, access to medical facilities and the quarantine rules on return to the UK. Debbie Marshall, managing


director of Silver Travel Advisor, said: “Light is beginning to appear at the end of tunnel. Vaccines are seen as the route out of lockdown and back onto the open road, once it’s safe to


10 11 FEBRUARY 2021


The past year, with its cancellations and challenges, has highlighted the value of booking with an agent


do so, for three in four older people. “With its cancellations and


challenges over refunds, the past year has highlighted the value of booking through a travel agent. The reassurance of having an agent to act as intermediary if things go wrong, as well as the advice and expertise they offer, is what seems to have driven up the number of people saying they would book with an agent.” Silver Travel Advisor is an advice


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and reviews site for over-50s. Its findings were based on three surveys of registered users last year, in May, July and November, plus a poll of older customers of Advantage Travel Partnership agents in January 2021. Six out of 10 respondents were aged 60-69; 75% were retired; and two in three were ‘broadly in good health’.


Read the Silver Travel Industry Report 2021 in full online at: bit.ly/STIR2021


The report’s key findings CONFIDENCE


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70%want to holiday abroad, a significant uptick since July 2020 and an 57%of those without a current booking say they would fly within nine VACCINE


86%say they will spend as much or more on travel in the next year, CRUISE


indication of growing confidence in the idea of travelling again months, up from 44% in July, showing a drop in wariness of flying


95%are happy to have the vaccine and 77% would travel within six months of spending


receiving it, but 34% do not intend to travel at all or, at least, not for now suggesting this age group has not been hit financially as hard as some


49%of existing ocean cruisers are keen to cruise within a year and a further 75%of non-cruisers would consider a river cruise, but 14% of escorted tours


34% will be happy to sail again with a vaccine, but 17% won’t return existing river cruisers say they won’t return


92%of existing coach passengers will return to UK coach trips and 79% 72%who have never taken an escorted Agents


will take an overseas escorted tour again coach trip will consider one


52%cite the ‘reassurance of having someone to help if needed’ or ‘my agent helped


me get a refund’ as reasons for booking with an agent Insurance


93%say full Covid-19 cover in travel insurance is essential


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock


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