The booking behavior of holidaymakers is changing rapidly. The well-known basic requirements for a holiday, such as good weather and various things you can do, are less decisive for the choice of holiday. Reporting on attacks in tourist destinations has the strongest influence on Dutch consumers. The risk of violence is even the most important factor in choosing a destination, according to panel research by GfK among more than a thousand Dutch people, commissioned by Webloyalty.
For the majority of Dutch travelers, safety in a country is the decisive factor when choosing a holiday destination. Three-quarters of people find an unstable political situation an obstacle. This applies to almost 70 percent for violence related to religion.
Health risks also play a role when choosing a holiday destination. More than six in ten Dutch people look at the risk of infections abroad.
The majority of travelers (52 percent) change their opinion about a country because of the travel advice issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For these respondents, positive travel advice plays an important role in the decision whether or not to travel to a country.
If an incident occurs at the holiday destination, such as an attack or a natural disaster, travelers would rather rebook than travel to the destination with a discount. 88 percent of all travelers say they want to do this. Barely ten percent want to continue the journey with a discount.
Southern Europe, Oceania and North America most popular destinations
Holiday bookers are especially positive about Southern Europe, Oceania and North America. Southern Europe because of the weather, the previous experiences and good food. Oceania mainly because of the good things people have heard about it, the sights, the fact that there is a lot to do and the safety. North America also because of the sights, the fact that there is a lot to do, good facilities and previous experiences. It is striking that young people and highly educated people especially recognize the advantages of these destinations. They also do this for destinations that are less popular, such as Southeast Asia, South America and Central and Southern Africa.
The research shows a reverse trend for the destinations that people are negative about: political instability is the most important factor for the (North) African destinations. North Africa is a destination that is most negatively judged. This is consistent with the collapsed booking numbers for this region. In South America, the risk of robbery or theft is an important element. For the other destinations – with the exception of Southern Europe – the destination is too far away. The fear of getting sick is especially true for destinations in Asia, Africa and South America.
Nice weather is decisive for 51 percent of the participants, 48 percent find beautiful nature the most important.
Source: Travel sentiment report, a focus on booking behaviour
Ridiculously safe in North America, except in the middle of nowhere it is safe, have you ever been lost in Los Angeles? Only then do you feel unsafe. In Orlando in the afternoon I drove the wrong way and asked a police officer for directions who absolutely forbade me to drive into a neighborhood during the day to avoid being robbed. Give me Asia, there are hospitals here where they can learn a lesson in customer friendliness and organization from us. I feel safer in Bangkok at 1:30 am on the street leaving the Hard Rock Cafe than in Brussels on Sunday afternoon on the Grote Markt.
1. People say one thing, but very often do another. Of course no one is going to say that the number of Muslims per holiday destination does not matter. You will be considered crazy. But do we then avoid Indonesia, China or Dubai as a holiday destination? No. And do we know how many Muslims there are per holiday country? No human. Do we avoid France after all the attacks? Don't get the impression when I see the European Football Championship on TV.
2. Who determines which safe countries are? Internet, the neighbours, the tour operator, Wilders and/or the media? Who knows that more people are shot dead in the USA every day than in the rest of the world put together? Nobody, because the press does not write about it. Who knows that there are about 80 road deaths per day in Thailand? And that 10 people have been murdered in the south in about 8000 years? No one in the Netherlands because it is not interesting news. If a Dutchman ends up in Thai prison for 107 years because of money laundering of drug money, questions are asked in the House of Representatives.