The downturn’s aftermath: Impact on tourist profiles and behaviours | By Angelos Loizou

Perhaps the most significant impact the financial crisis has on the way tourists purchase their holiday is they now attach even more importance to the concept of value for money, something that will be a competitive advantage for those destinations able to offer it.

For large groups of people (e.g. tourists from Central European countries), taking an annual vacation abroad is part of their lifestyle and culture. In periods of economic difficulties, they’ll take advantage of the diversity of available tourist products and will prefer to consider alternative destinations (or leisure activities) rather than cancel their holiday altogether.

Furthermore, a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey revealed holidays remain sacred to the U.K. consumer as those chasing the sun refuse to forgo their annual trip. More than two-thirds of those polled will trade down from their usual level of vacation, while only 16 percent will stop going on holiday altogether.

The medium-term consequences of financial instability on tourists can be summarized by the following:

• Tourists prefer to plan shorter and probably more holidays.
• Medium- to short-haul destinations are becoming more popular.
• Saving on the cost of traveling to and from a tourist destination will be as important as the cost of accommodations and entertainment, with a special preference for low-cost airline companies.
• The all-inclusive concept will revive as tourists seek holiday packages with a broader range of activities at the best available prices.
• Tourists are becoming more sensitive to issues related to ecology and the protection of the environment.
• Vacation expenses will continue to be a priority in the family budget. They’ll remain at the top of the discretionary spending list.

When the economy recovers, it’s worth considering whether things could be different. Consumer behavior might well be moulded differently. Travelers might travel shorter distances. Their holiday and short-break behavior could change significantly as well. If consumers and businesses find attractive value for money propositions adopted during the recession acceptable, they might well stick with them.

Consumers also won’t be in a position for some time to derive wealth by taking equity out of their homes. History tells us the housing market will probably take far longer to recover than the overall economy. Additionally, credit conditions may remain weak for some time, and consumer spending will be constrained as a result. This means hotel companies and the tourism industry in general might want to plan for a slower and more modest recovery rather than a strong consumer rebound.