Lonely Planet survey of independent travellers finds Thailand and Italy are hot favourites
JANUARY 14, 2004
The online survey to mark Lonely Planet’s 30th anniversary year is the world’s most authoritative independent travel survey to date with over 7500 respondents from 134 countries, from the Arctic to Zimbabwe.
Despite SARs and the ongoing threat of terrorism, a third of all travellers nominated Asia to be their favourite region, but Europe followed a close second with 30%. Asian and South American travellers voted their own regions the best.
Thailand is considered the most hospitable country, receiving 20% of the overall vote followed by Australia (13%). Meanwhile New Zealanders demonstrated their patriotism by voting themselves as the most hospitable!
Thirty years ago when Lonely Planet began, the average independent traveller was a hippy backpacker looking for an alternative lifestyle. The survey finds a very different picture now - the typical independent traveller of the 21st century is a professional, with a degree or postgraduate qualification. In general, people are taking trips of 1 to 3 months’ duration which combine adventure, activity, relaxation and culture.
The backpackers of the 1980s and 90s are still travelling but have refined their travel habits and choose their destinations and travel style carefully. Almost half of all respondents have been to over 16 countries and a third travel as a couple.
Travellers were asked to name their dream destination and answers varied widely from Antarctica to South America, from travelling locally to round-the-world trips. The results clearly show how strong the desire is to reach those undiscovered corners of the world - and that travel has become a necessary escape from the pressures of modern life. Remote Island getaways hit the spot for most travellers’ as ideal dream destination.
Asked what the next big thing in travel was, answers included a variety of predictions, including: space travel, more independent travel, more train travel and short breaks, and an increase in travel by older people and Chinese nationals.
Naturally all travellers believed travel is important, the vast majority saying that “it broadens the mind”. Many answers were inspirational: “I’m still optimistic that eventually “the world” will realise that differences between people and places make them exciting and deserving of our appreciation, rather than something to be feared” and “travel is fatal to bigotry and narrow-mindedness”. Others simply made us smile: “it makes you feel like a kid again – everything is new to you” and “who wouldn’t want to be Indiana Jones?”.
Other Remarkable Findings:
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• Overall, the top nominated countries are: Thailand, Italy, Australia, India, and New Zealand.
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• Respondents had diverse tastes; nominating 183 countries out of a possible 212.
• 32% travel as a couple, 28% with friends, 28% go solo, 8% with family and only 3% go in an organised group
• More than 80% of respondents said they purchase a guidebook more than six weeks in advance and 3% don’t buy a book at all.
• A whopping 87% of respondents travel without children, indicating that independent travel with children still isn’t common.
• Most independent travellers are highly educated with 50% of respondents holding a degree and 28% holding a postgraduate degree.
• See also our separate survey of Lonely Planet staff from around the world, who voted New Zealand as top destination for 2004 for the second year running.
Lonely Planet would like to thank all our travellers who answered the survey and wish them happy and safe trips in 2004.
For more information about Lonely Planet’s survey please contact the Publicity Department at the Lonely Planet office nearest you. For contact details go to About - Lonely Planet
Note: The Lonely Planet 30th anniversary survey consisted of 30 questions and was conducted online at www.lonelyplanet.com over a three week period in November 2003. The survey respondents were predominantly from Europe, North America and Australia. 30 lucky winners also received a free copy of a guidebook of their choice.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/pressroom/news/press_release.cfm?press_release_id=84