REVENGE TRAVEL
By Jason Jourdan
The global doldrums appear to be lifting, and travelers are restless! After more than a year of ‘2 weeks to stop the spread,’ would-be vacationers have not been wasting their time stuck at home. Assailed by the nonsense of 2020 and the frustrations of COVID-19, travel planners are not-so-secretly plotting their revenge. Consumers are ready to relax and spoil themselves. ‘Revenge travel’ plans are infusing tourism with a jolt from the defibrillator of commerce!
Spurred by an eagerness to celebrate liberation, many consumers have indicated a willingness to spend more than usual on upcoming vacations. A survey by 360 Market Reach shows 40% of participants plan to increase spending with younger travelers expanding budgets by 50% and older vacationers by 43%.
As Spring is upon us and borders are reopening, participants are planning luxury getaways with an emphasis on relaxation and a little indulgence. It’s all about a post-worthy experience.
Social media and online influencers have shaped revenge traveling with content designed to inspire and shape leisure plans. Of the participants ready to treat themselves to a post-pandemic vacation, 80% say social media influences their decisions on destinations, hotels, restaurants, and more.
Expect to see lots of selfies and videos. A fair number of respondents expressed how important it was for them, especially the 18-34s, to share travel experiences on at least three different social media channels.
Consumers are preparing to exact their “revenge” against COVID-19 as vaccine distribution fuels a spike in travel searches. According to Skyscanner, searches for international cities like London, Paris, Copenhagen, Madrid, and Amsterdam increased sharply after the announcement of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Despite lingering travel restrictions, some countries are opening their borders to vaccinated visitors, and many have announced reopen schedules. New York-based travel advisor, KOALA, has analyzed Google data from the last six months to compile a list of most searched destination countries:
- Puerto Rico
- Mexico
- The Maldives
- Japan
- Jamaica
- Greece
- Aruba
- Rica
- The Bahamas
- Iceland
Something else to fuel the machinations of revenge travelers, The New York Times reports the European Union has announced they will begin opening the borders of all 27 member states to vaccinated travelers with a European Medicines Agency-approved vaccine certificate. The United States is on track to reach 70 percent adult immunization by mid-June. The pace of vaccine distribution, combined with discussions between governments over immunity certification, is giving the European Commission confidence to begin receiving U.S. tourists as early as this summer!
The Popular travel blog, BucketListly, has also published their 8 Best Places to Go After COVID-19 to offer guidance to vacationers searching for socially distanced experiences in the great outdoors to relax and recoup:
- Gobi Desert, Mongolia
- Pamir Highway, Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan
- Great Walks, New Zealand
- Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
- Galapagos Island, Ecuador
- Easter Island, Chile
- Himalayas, Nepal
- The Outback, Australia
Travelers with a mind for COVID revenge should engage the services of a travel advisor to make the most of their plans. To avoid reprisals from a spiteful COVID-19, vengeance vacationers will also want to consult an experienced travel insurance provider about policies covering medical expenses associated with international travel. Point Comfort® provides a reliable Plan-B for revenge travel planners with piece-of-mind benefits for a range of travel contingencies, including:
- CCOVID-19 Medical Expense Coverage up to the Policy Maximum
- Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
- Emergency Medical Reunion
- Return of Minor Child
- Emergency Traveler Assistance
Revenge travelers can relax and celebrate handing the ‘L’ to COVID with Point Comfort® international travel medical insurance.
CLICK HERE for your FREE quote.
