Only 18 per cent of travelers will step over the threshold of a travel agency this year, while five per cent said they would book by telephone. Back in 2003, 65 per cent booked their holiday in person and 22 per cent used the phone.
CAIRO, EGYPT – Wherever holiday-makers choose to go, the internet is their first port of call for both researching and booking travel. More than three quarters (76 per cent) of European travelers now book their holidays online, according to a new research from British Airways. This compares to just 13 per cent 10 years ago, when internet access was less widespread.
Only 18 per cent of travelers will step over the threshold of a travel agency this year, while five per cent said they would book by telephone. Back in 2003, 65 per cent booked their holiday in person and 22 per cent used the phone.
James Godfrey, manager of ba.com, commented: “The switch to online for our holiday planning – whether to research or to book – has been one of the most significant changes in travel over the past few years. The internet has established itself as a quick, easy and effective way for travelers to ensure they get what they want from their trip.
“As a result, we have invested heavily in ba.com to make it as user-friendly as possible. This includes new ways of presenting flights, multi-lingual pages and ‘one-stop-shop’ car and hotel booking offers.”
“We want to make travel with British Airways as easy and comfortable as possible, we place great importance in investing in leading technology and in areas where we can truly enhance the customers’ experience, from online booking and check-in and more via Ba.com, we put the customer at the heart of everything we do” said Mervat Alfy, British Airways commercial manager in Egypt.
Photo caption: Mervat Alfy, British Airways commercial manager in Egypt.
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