Families and friends driving force for travel recovery

Family on beach

A desire to reconnect with family and friends after a year of stringent lockdown measures due to Covid-19 is likely greater than a leisure getaway in 2021, and should not be underestimated in travel’s recovery, according to GlobalData

Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “GlobalData’s forecasts suggest that visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel will experience higher growth, with a 17-per-cent compound annual growth rate between 2021-25, compared to leisure, growing at a 16-per-cent increase between the same time period. While VFR will not surpass the number of international leisure getaways, it will play a vital role in travel’s recovery with 242 million international departures expected to be taken for this purpose by 2025.”

Aim should be to reunite families

During this pandemic, travel and tourism bodies worldwide have called for the sector to ‘reunite’ in its recovery. The aim for both destinations and tourism businesses right now should be to reunite families after over a year of international travel restrictions.

Bonhill-Smith added: “Destinations can issue special visas or requirements that will make it easier for families to reunite. Airlines can ensure popular VFR routes are some of the first to be restored, hospitality businesses and attraction operators could offer incentives and discounts for families. All industries across the travel sector could be better informed to have a greater understanding of this tourism market.” 

Last year, according to insurer AllClear’s research, half of Brits planning travel did so to visit family.