A recent travel survey of over 38,000 members of leading travel social network, Where are you currently (WAYN), has revealed some interesting changes in how its users opt to travel.
The introverts guide to travel The implications suggest that travellers increasingly seek solitude when on holiday, with the general public – 33% – claiming that they might decide to travel solo. The second one most well liked travel companions (26%) are friends, as opposed to partners or spouses.
Independent Travel vs. Tours Traditional guided tours look like falling from favour with 49% of travellers opting to make their very own sightseeing plans instead of join a selected tour. Travellers appear to trust social media and other web research tools to arm them with enough detail to devise their trips, without the will of a guide.
Luxury or less WAYN members prefer budget and mid-range accommodation to luxury hotels, with most members claiming that cost often is the only thing that might deter them from visiting the region: crime and disease weren’t considered deterrents.
Setting new standards in South America The survey, which serious about questioning travellers about visiting South America, showed that WAYN members are clearly an adventurous bunch. Brazil was the most well liked country within the continent with 49% of respondents saying it might be their first choice in South America, while a perfect break would combine city and beach. 90% said they might travel widely while on holiday, visiting a variety of cities and countries to benefit from having travelled to the continent.
Peter Ward from WAYN said: “We believe the net accounts for a majority of these changes with increased amounts of obtainable and relevant information empowering travellers to travel alone, stay in additional diverse accommodation and plan visits to previously unconsidered destinations. I’m a major advocate of independent travel and our site gives users a chance to make friends at home before they travel so even when they do like to go solo, they’ve got a virtual friend to explore their destination with.”
WAYN is the brainchild of Jerome Touze and Peter Ward who came up with the basis after arriving from backpacking in 2002. It’s currently the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social media platform with 21 million members in 193 countries. The main target of WAYN is to help people with making essentially the most out of life by discovering where to head, what to do and who to satisfy.