90% of travelers say that the most important thing when vacationing is to experience the destination like a local
Nearly half (45%) are concerned that their travel experience will not be authentic, and Millennials are particularly concerned about experiencing the real deal as 67% say they are worried about not having an authentic experience, compared to 46% of Gen Z and 40% of Gen X. Only 24% of Baby Boomers
Nearly all travelers surveyed (95%) prefer to spend some time on their trip to experience new and unique experiences, preferably an average of 3 hours per day
While nearly all surveyed (93%) are willing to cut back on some aspect of their trip to save money, less than a third are willing to cut back on experiences or activities (29%)
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to travel in 2023, Americans want to be more than just tourists, a desire that is driving their travel plans for authentic and memorable experiences GetYourGuide, the leading travel booking platform, delivers memorable experiences, according to a commissioned study. More than half (51%) of leisure travelers say experiencing a destination as a local is a top priority, and nearly half (45%) are also concerned that they are not getting an authentic experience.
“Today’s leisure travelers are looking for one-of-a-kind experiences that highlight destinations through authentic footage,” said Caroline Berger, U.S. brand lead, GetYourGuide. “In a world where U.S. travelers are flocking back in droves and eager to book memorable experiences around the globe, we’re committed to helping them transform ordinary plans into trips they’ll remember for years to come.”
Local charm
As U.S. travelers weigh the factors that matter most to their 2023 itinerary, experiencing new destinations is truly in the spotlight. When it comes to vacations, at least three in five (62 percent) believe a trip is a waste if they don’t experience the local culture.
In addition, nearly all (97%) say that some aspects of local culture are more important to them than others when traveling domestically or internationally. Not surprisingly, food tops the list of local priorities (70%), followed by visiting attractions (67%), learning about history (58%), experiencing the local art scene (48%), and interacting with locals (38%).
Memories are worth every penny
Travelers are increasingly inclined to seek out once-in-a-lifetime experiences and create memories When traveling for leisure.
95% are more likely to spend at least some of their time on new and unique experiences
Nearly half (48%) say the main reason is to gain new and unique experiences
To make an international trip memorable, travelers primarily want to discover something new.
64% want to discover something they didn’t know before
60% want to visit popular destinations
56% want to explore places they’ve never heard of before
While nearly all (93%) are willing to cut back in some way to save money – such as gifts or souvenirs (65%), dining out (41%), transportation (36%) or lodging (33%) – most (71%) are not willing to reduce their activities and experiences.
Local guides add incredible value
Nearly all (98%) of travelers say they recognize the benefits of having a local guide. Some of the benefits they may miss without a guide include
Being able to see things they wouldn’t have found (70%)
Avoiding dangerous areas (60%)
Lower risk of getting lost (59%)
The most common reasons for concern when exploring on their own include
Overpaying (51%)
Not being able to do everything they planned to do (49%)
