Most Americans prefer to make their own travel plans even though they might save up to 30% when buying the same arrangements in a vacation package or tour.
That’s the figure quoted by the US Tour Operators (USTOA), who point out that almost three-quarters of American travelers in a recent poll wanted to arrange their own trip.
Why the disparity?
According to the survey, Baby Boomers were the most likely to choose packaged travel, with 30% of that age group saying they enjoyed independent touring. This echoes findings of a 2006 USTOA consumer survey, which found that 70% of those aged 55 – 64 were likely to buy a tour or vacation package because of the savings.
“The survey points out that clearly there are tremendous prejudices and misconceptions to overcome about packaged travel vs. independent travel,†said Bob Whitley, USTOA president.
Whitley points out that many people don’t realize they can buy the same independent arrangements directly from a tour operator or through a travel agent, and save money.
“As travel agents know, when it comes to tours, people think it means being herded together in a large group and on the go all the time. However, this is not the case. Tours today run the gamut,†he said. He added:
“Vacation packages provide all the elements for an independent traveler to do it all on their own, while an independent tour provides the framework of a pre-confirmed itinerary without the restraints of a group.â€
The USTOA web site contains a drop-down list where people can choose a tour operator by activity, destination, and even by their personality preference.
USTOA’s 150 member companies send more than 11 million people on vacation annually to all corners of the globe.
Report by David Wilkening
