How Millennials’ Travel Choices Differ

How Millennials’ Travel Choices Differ

In a recent article online from the Adventure Travel Association, Gert Nieuwboer, the general director of SNP Natuurreizen and creator of Millennial travel site YOMANDS.com, comments are sobering, “Tour operators and Millennials are not an easy match. Millennials don’t need tour operators, since they compose their own trips, preferably on the spot using the Internet and various information sites. SNP, as a classical adventure tour operator, is trying hard to reach to the Millennials with specialized products—and their numbers are growing slowly. At this moment 10% of our travellers are Millennials.”

This generation of travellers comprise over 20% of international arrivals, some 213 million international trips. And they travel more. They take 25% more trips per year than older groups.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association recently published a story outlining several ways that the millennial traveller differs and how travel providers can adapt to this group of people.

    1. Product – millennials do not want guided cycling, walking tours. That is what their parents do. Instead they want to mix with locals, be more spontaneous and active. They like kayaking, canyoning, climbing, hiking, surfing. They like to learn a new skill and dive into different cultures.
    2. Fear of missing out, “FOMO” drives a lot of their decisions. The next big adventure, the coolest beach, whatever their friends are doing, they have to do for fear of missing it.
    3. Experiences not souvenirs.
    4. Not as budget conscious. They will spend big for the big experience.
    5. Action, not calm activities.
    6. They like to travel with friends.
    7. Short patience with slow websites.
    8. No problem booking online, just make it easy and fast. They use mobile to book.
    9. They trust online reviews (see our article on raising your TripAdvisor ranking)
    10. Book as they go, not far in advance.
    11. Part of the experience is sharing on social media. They need their peers to know they are not missing out, and their peers might be.

If there was any doubt in your mind that making your booking site responsive and easy to use on a mobile phone, this is one more proof of need to keep upgraded. Adventure Engine shopping is mobile friendly.

You can read the whole article at the ATTA site here

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