Provider of Travel Guard global travel insurance solution reports Pulse Poll results.
HOUSTON – Nearly 80 percent of travelers recently polled by a leading global travel product and service supplier reported that they have taken what they consider to be a “cultural trip” in their lifetime. AIG Travel, which offers the Travel Guard portfolio of travel insurance solutions and global travel, medical, security and concierge services, today shared results of its quarterly Pulse Poll, focused on cultural travel.
“With the euro tumbling earlier this year to a 12-year low against the U.S. dollar, travelers are setting their sights on traveling abroad,” said Jeff Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel. “Our most recent traveler poll reveals insights from consumers who have journeyed internationally, domestically or both – and some are already looking forward to their next adventures.”
Defining cultural travel: Thirty-eight percent of the surveyed consumers reported that what defines a cultural trip is the opportunity to participate in local experiences and immersion programs, while 23 percent cited the opportunity to visit museums, and 22 percent cited the opportunity to see landmarks and monuments.
Traveling afar or staying near: More than half (58 percent) of respondents said they would take a cultural trip to both an international destination and a domestic one – 13 percent favored an international destination, while 9 percent favored a domestic one.
Going to Western Europe: Of the destinations to which survey respondents had traveled for a cultural experience, Western Europe (cited by 31 percent) was the most popular. Among other destinations, runners up for most visited were Eastern Europe (8 percent), South America (6 percent), North America (5 percent), and the Caribbean (also 5 percent).
Expressing a quest for learning: Poll participants cited educational benefits of cultural travel as a key factor in their decision to take a cultural trip. Other motivators included reading an article on a desired destination (17 percent) and receiving a recommendation from a travel agent or a friend (13 percent).
Revealing travel companions: The most popular partners among the persons polled were significant others (31 percent) and immediate family (27 percent), while friends and tour groups were each cited as preferred travel companions by 13 percent of respondents.
Sharing travel concerns: Thirty-four percent of the polled consumers reported that a language barrier would be a concern when considering a cultural trip, while other concerns included the costs of cultural travel (for 30 percent of respondents). Seventeen percent said they would worry about medical help while on vacation.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
