Accepted as one of the few general-interest annual reports on the condition of global travel trends, the American Express edition of its 2022 is also accepted as authoritative due to its carefully designed methodology¹.
For your convenience, INBOUND has digested the salient contents of the report. Click here to access the full report.
| “The past two years proved how special exploration can be, as well as the weight our travel decisions hold for local communities. Looking ahead, travelers are making decisions with purpose in mind – from understanding where their money is going to finding time to connect with loved ones. We’re excited to see what the future brings.”—Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel |
⦁ 81 percent of respondents agree they want to travel to destinations where they can immerse themselves into the local culture¹.
⦁ 81 percent of respondents agree they want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community¹.
⦁ 62 percent of respondents agree they want to be more thoughtful about where and how they travel¹.
⦁ 74 percent of respondents are willing to book a trip for 2022 even if they might have to cancel or modify it later¹.
⦁ 72 percent of respondents plan to spend more money on domestic travel and 64% plan to spend more money on international travel than they have in the previous year¹.
⦁ 62 percent of respondents agree that they plan on taking 2-4 trips in 20221¹.
Top Activities Consumers Are Interested in Doing
To Have a Positive Impact on The Local Community
| Activity | Percentage of Survey Respondents |
| Eating & Shopping at Small Businesses | 55% |
| Visiting a Landmark or Heritage Site | 42% |
| Visiting a National Park | 40% |
| Visiting a Farmer’s Market | 37% |
| Visiting Museums or Attending Cultural Tours | 36% |
| Partaking in Outdoor Activities | 34% |
The Evolution of Family Travel
⦁ 79 percent of respondents agree they are most looking forward to traveling with their family in 20221¹.
⦁ 76 percent of respondents state they plan to travel more with family in 2022 than they did in 20211¹.
⦁ 58 percent of respondents agree they are more interested in multi-generational family trips than ever before¹.
What Did Family Travel Look Like Over the Past Two Years?
Family travel looked different for everyone. While 19 percent of respondents state they didn’t travel the past two years, other families’ favorite experiences included:
—Domestic travel (19 percent);
—Beach resorts (12 percent);
—Road trips (11 percent);
—International travel (10 percent);
—Staycations (7 percent);
—Camping (6 percent), and more.¹
Consumers Surveyed in These Seven Countries
Plan To Travel More with Family Than They Did in 2021
| Country | % Who Plan to Spend More Time with Family |
| India | 94% |
| Mexico | 92% |
| Australia | 76% |
| UK | 74% |
| U.S. | 72% |
| Canada | 69% |
| Japan | 57% |
Dream Destinations Become a Reality
Looking beyond the pandemic, travelers are eager to experience the dream destinations they have not previously visited and are embracing flexibility with their travel plans. In fact, 55percent of respondents agree they want to book a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in 2022. And 74 percent of respondents agree they are willing to book a trip for 2022 even if they might have to cancel or modify it later.1
⦁ 86 percent of respondents expect to spend more or the same on travel in 2022 compared to a typical year before the pandemic¹.
⦁ 65 percent of respondents agree they would rather take their dream vacation than purchase a new car¹.
⦁ 58 percent of Millennials surveyed agree they would be willing to travel solo now to visit their dream destination¹.
What’s New for Experiential Travel
⦁ 70 percent of respondents state they are interested in cultural immersion and taking a tour on future trips¹.
⦁ 43 percent of respondents state they are interested in traveling for entertainment events¹.
⦁ 38 percent of respondents state they are interested in traveling for cultural events¹.
Activities Consumers Expressed Interest in Doing While Traveling
| Activity | Percentage of Survey Respondents |
| Dining | 63% |
| Walking Tour | 53% |
| Shopping | 49% |
| Museum | 37% |
| Spa | 30% |
| Hiking | 27% |
| Reading | 25% |
| Event/Concert | 24% |
| Scuba Diving | 19% |
| Biking | 16% |
| Meditation | 15% |
| Sports Event | 15% |
Major Entertainment Events Guiding 2022 Travel Plans
Over half (52 percent) of respondents stated they are interested in traveling for personal gatherings such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, or holidays.1
1. Methodology: This Amex Trendex online poll was conducted by Morning Consult between February 3-11th, 2022 among a national sample of 2,000 US and 1,000 travelers in Japan, Australia, Mexico, India, UK, and Canada who have a household income of at least $70K, and defined as adults who typically travel by air at least once a year. Results from each market’s survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
