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NEW YORK -- More than seven out of ten (73%) travelers expect to spend more on their 2003 vacations than they did in 2002, reveals a recent online survey conducted by Travel Holiday. That’s good news for members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), where a majority of members surveyed (53%) expect slight increases in tour and vacation package prices for the coming year.

USTOA recently surveyed its members and found that 2003 prices are expected to increase slightly by up to 10%. Increases are due to currency fluctuations, particularly in Europe where the rising value of the Euro against the dollar is expected to account for increases in vacation packages.

Unlike Travel Holiday respondents, however, USTOA members were less optimistic about travel spending, with 33% expecting travelers to spend more next year (and 43% the same). A full 90% of USTOA members feel travelers will be more budget conscious.

According to the surveys, which polled 600 Travel Holiday readers and 30 USTOA members (representing 70 different brand names), only 27% of Travel Holiday readers anticipate paying less on 2003 vacations, while 23% of USTOA members feel travelers will spend less (and 43% the same).

Advance Bookings Closer to Departure

The vast majority of both Travel Holiday readers (68%) and USTOA members (86%) say travelers are now more prone to book vacations closer to departure.

Escorted Tours

Seventy percent of USTOA respondents cited passengers’ booking 30 days prior to departure, while 30% said passengers now book 14 days ahead. Passengers who previously booked as much as a year in advance are now down to 30 days, while those who used to book up to six weeks in advance are now booking two weeks prior to departure.

USTOA members are more optimistic that escorted tour bookings will increase in the coming year than Travel Holiday readers (77% vs. 18%). USTOA members surveyed felt escorted tours would increase by up to 20%, however, an additional 53% of readers believe it will remain the same.

Both groups were asked about what elements of an escorted tour appeal most to travelers. Travelers and USTOA members agree that convenience and price are the top two elements. Travelers rate not having to worry about planning next, followed by security and traveling with others. USTOA members rate security ahead of planning.

Following are the responses indexed to 100 (the higher the index number, the more favorable the response).

Travel Holiday: Convenience, 111; price, 107; no worries about planning, 97; security, 96; and traveling with other people, 89.

USTOA members: Convenience, 127; price, 109; security, 102; planning, 97; and traveling with other people 64.

Travel Holiday and USTOA decided to find if there were differences in perceptions between travelers and the tour operators that package vacations. Similar questions were used in separate surveys fielded in October 2002. Travel Holiday’s survey was conducted on its web site while USTOA members were queried by e-mail.

For more information on USTOA, and a free copy of the Smart Traveler’s Planning Kit, contact 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862).

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