The findings of a new report suggest that US travellers are increasingly turning towards travel agents to book their holidays. And perhaps more surprisingly, it’s the digital natives or Millennials, who are leading the charge.
That’s according to a new report released by the American Society of Travel Agents which reached out to 14,000 households in the aim of looking at the overall usage of travel agents.
In the past 12 months, 22% of consumers polled said they booked their travel through an agent, the highest share reported in the past three years.
That figure spikes to 30% for Millennials. Another 45% of Millennials polled also said they would recommend a travel agent to a friend or family member.
“At this point, consumers have tried it all – they’ve booked online, they’ve gone direct, and they’ve used a travel agent,” said ASTA president Zane Kerby in a statement.
“This study dispels once and for all the myth that booking direct with suppliers or spending hours online yourself gets you a better deal or gives you a happier travel experience. In short, if you want a better travel experience, use an agent.”
The findings also show that about two-thirds of all travel agent users said the consultation made their overall trip experience better, be it from saving money to helping them avoid booking mistakes. – AFP Relaxnews
