Despite the measures that can be taken at destinations and accommodations, travelers continue to prefer uncrowded destinations, according to a survey.
As a result of the pandemic, although 3 out of 4 Mexican tourists comply with the preventive measures indicated for visitors, less crowded tourist destinations are more convincing for visitors.
According to a survey by Tourist Radar, less crowded destinations are attractive to practically 65% of travelers, while 35% would choose to visit busy but well-known places.
At the same time, 94% of hotels have dedicated themselves to reporting on the measures they have taken to prevent health risks for their guests.
The study highlights that in terms of accommodation, more than 80% of national travelers would prefer to stay in establishments of well-known brands under the assumption that these could generate more confidence in terms of compliance with sanitary measures, while 18% would stay in small hotels of not very well-known brands, which the study associates with the uncertainty regarding compliance with health protocols, although with less occupancy.
Despite this, relative to the market, destinations with few rooms and small chains near cities are registering higher occupancy rates than large beach destinations with many rooms available. The current average occupancy is 16.3% nationally, but small hotels reach 17% while localities with less than a thousand rooms reach 21%, according to the study by Tourist Radar.
In terms of travel preferences, about 1 in 4 would look for a domestic flight in the next 3 months, while only 1 in 6 would think of an international one. However, only 25% say they feel safe traveling by plane right now. The preferred accommodation would be a hotel, with 29% of the preferences of Mexican travelers, compared to 24% who would bet on private accommodation.
According to Rogerio Basso, tourism director at IDB Invest, in April hotel occupancy in Latin America was around 11.6%, its lowest point, while in May it grew to 15% and by June it reached 17%, indications that there is a recovery gradual.
“As the crisis has taken much longer than we anticipated, hoteliers, mainly SMEs that work in the tourism spectrum, are short of liquidity. In the reopening process, there is going to be a mismatch between income and expenses ”, highlighted Basso at a press conference organized by Avianca.
Despite the fact that for most travelers, the two highest priorities in their trips are their well-being and that of their family in more than 80% of cases, only 75% of them comply with the protection measures with full or a lot of cooperation, while still prevails 25% that cooperate little or nothing in it.
For Lilian Peregrina, director of retail and consumption at SGS, compliance with sanitary measures is not optional as authorities have implemented actions to sanction establishments that do not comply with the protocols, which should give more confidence to travelers. However, for this, it is necessary to work on the creation of a new culture within companies.
“(They should) make sure they have a correct implementation, and even go to companies for it. And to be reinforcing the creation of this culture day after day at all levels ”, he commented.
Source: forbes.com.mx
