Fewer Americans Traveling to Great Britain
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Americans are not planning trips to England and other European countries with as much fervor as they did before September 11. According to a report by Reuters on July 16, 2009, the Office for National Statistics shows a decrease of 2.7 percent from travel between 2001 to 2007, accounting for approximately 31.9 million visits. The first quarter of 2009 has also been dismal for the tourism industry in general, and fewer Americans are planning trips overseas in hopes of saving money and weathering the economic downturn. Travel by British residents to the United States and other destinations has also declined considerably in the past year, accounting for a 21 percent drop between 2008 and 2009. The decline encompasses once-popular travel destinations such as Austria, Switzerland and East European countries. Many travelers are resorting to 'staycations' where they decide to explore their own city or a nearby destination to enjoy a break. Vacation planning for the holidays and 2010 may be temporarily on hold as many people look for ways to save money on travel expenses, and postpone major expenditures for travel, cruises and luxury vacations until the economic climate improves.
The major domestic and international airlines are also affected by the rough economic climate. Many are laying off flight attendants and customer service agents in order to reduce labor costs, and focusing their efforts on making operations more efficient. Some are imposing baggage fees and additional chargers to passengers so that they can increase revenue from every flight.
Despite the lower rates of international travel, exchange rates are running strong and may be the reason why many travelers are still booking their vacation across the pond. Favorable exchange rates and budget travel options such as reduced hotel fees and discounted travel packages may help to stimulate international travel for the remainder of 2009 and in early 2010.
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