A little while ago we sent out our fabulous Voice of a Generation survey, and seeing as we at Contiki are a very curious bunch, we asked you, our dedicated US Gen Z and Millennial fanbase (travelers) about your opinions on AI, travel with friends vs. strangers, which movies have served as destination inspo, and so much more!
Well, after carefully combing through the results, we’ve found some very interesting statistics about you all! At this point, we may even know you better than you know yourselves… If you’re curious about the new wave of travel, dictated by YOU, then read on!
To travel, or not to travel?
The answer is undoubtedly ‘to travel’! And thank goodness for that – travel and seeing the world is the spice of life after all. Over the years there was a rise in the ‘digital nomad’ trend, but it seems that 18-35s are turning their back on it and opting for full vacation vibes instead.
62% of you said you prefer to completely disconnect from work while vacationing, and 146 of you said that traveling and discovering new locations ranks much higher than advancing your career. Personally, we kind of view the world as our work space anyway – travel is an education of its own – so we totally back these opinions.
In fact, travel is of such high value to our 18-35s that 56% of respondents said they’d refuse a raise in exchange for more PTO, and this desire for more time off is reflected in the fact that 36% have taken a ‘quiet vacation’, in which they traveled without taking any PTO, and 44% said that they had not but would definitely consider doing it!
Image source:Contiki
Communing with the robots
Whether you like the rise of AI or not, it’s becoming more and more prevalent in all industries, travel included. Travel is stressful, what if your flight gets cancelled? What if you forgot to book those tickets to visit the Colosseum? What if this, what if that? Well, we like to think that’s where Contiki comes in…
However, even we have to admit that we can’t do everything, and it’s interesting to see that 59% of our 18-35 year old travelers would use AI to help them find travel discounts, and over 50% would ask AI for local recommendations when it comes to hotels, restaurants, and activities.
Overall, though, only 8% of our audience would trust AI to book their entire travel experience, and 79% of respondents have never used AI for any portion of planning at all. It may take a few more years for our electronic friends to settle into their new roles.
Clear headed at all times
Though it’s easy to think of younger adults as party-obsessed generations who just want to have fun, the reality is that actually, most of the 18-35s we spoke to want to do so sober! That’s right, a whopping 83% of travelers are interested in booking ‘sober travel’ experiences, in which they don’t drink for the course of their vacation.
And we are so on board for that! After all, what’s the point of traveling to beautiful destinations if you can’t remember any of it the next day?
Image source:Contiki
Happy to make friends along the way
Through this Voice of a Generation survey we have revealed many interesting traits about Gen-Zs and Millennials, and one such trait is the fact that these generations are not afraid to connect with new friends.
Instead of traveling with friends, 58% of travelers said that they’d actually prefer to travel and make new friends along the way. Perfect – have you heard of social travel?
But, on the flip side of this, when asked to rank their travel priorities, only 2% of respondents selected ‘making friends’ as their first choice.
A good conscience
Sustainable travel and the desire to do good while hopping from country to country has long been on the rise. It’s a travel trend that we hope to see continue, and with your answers it looks like it will.
Only 10% of 18-35s said that sustainability when it comes to travel wasn’t important to them, with the most important causes being ‘leaving a positive impact on the destination and visited communities’ (42%), and ‘helping to preserve wildlife’ (38%).
The only caveat to this is that the increased costs that sustainable travel can incur would put sustainability in the backseat for 57% of travelers. This is fair enough, as 51% of travelers also stated that their biggest barrier to booking more vacations is the cost.
Still, we do what we can, and every little bit counts! And hopping on a Contiki and experiencing one of our many MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences is a great way to start.
Image source:Contiki
Easy breezy globetrotters
It turns out that Gen Zs and Millennials are always down for a good time whether that’s a big leap away from home, or a staycation closer to town. 70% of travelers answered that they would book a trip that was leaving in 10 days – how’s that for embracing the world?
Our 18-35s also aren’t picky when it comes to travel! When asked if they would consider traveling to a destination dupe, for example the Philippines instead of the Maldives, or Albania instead of Croatia, 83% replied that they either had done this before, or would absolutely consider doing it in the future. Plus, 53% of travelers said they would prefer to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations, instead of ticking off all the main attractions. As long as it’s got good food, good vibes, and good views, you guys are all in.
Home or away?
One of the main reasons people travel is for the escapism, right? It’s a chance to get away from the regular routine and troubles at home. And in 2024, this especially rings true. In light of the upcoming US election, and all the buzz and slight chaos around it, 78% of respondents said they would travel to escape it all.
On the flip side, over half of our 18-35s said that they would move back in with their parents in order to save money for future vacations. 29% said they were already doing it, and 37% said they’d consider it. Perhaps this is a return to routine that will one day facilitate future escapism?
Image source:Contiki