Expedia Study: Travelers’ Plans Remain Largely Leisure-Focused

A recent Expedia Group survey of about 5,500 people worldwide showed that most have travel in their near-term plans, but a much smaller percentage have business travel plans on their calendars.

In the survey—which received responses from adults in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. and was conducted in November, prior to the surge of the Covid-19 omicron variant—81 percent of respondents said they were planning at least one vacation trip with family and friends in the following six months. Less than half from any country, however, said they were planning at least one work trip.

Mexico had the highest percentage of respondents planning a business trip, at 47 percent. The U.S. was next, with 30 percent, followed by Australia with 29 percent, the U.K. with 25 percent and France with 23 percent. An Expedia spokesperson said that “we anticipate an increase in business travel will come as restrictions ease, vaccination rates rise and boosters become more widely available.”

The survey did indicate a hunger for travel from those who have been largely working from home. Of those surveyed who work remotely, 56 percent said they were interested in business trips they could extend into leisure trips.

While a large majority of respondents said they were planning short trips, the survey also indicated an interest in international travel. U.K. travelers were the most likely to be planning international trips within the next six months, with 48 of respondents indicating such plans, followed by France at 46 precent and Canada at 43 percent. Younger travelers were more likely than older travelers to be planning international trips.