Visa unveils results of global travel study

CEBU, Philippines -  It seems that those with deeper pockets are the ones that pay their money the most attention regardless of where they are. 

Affluent travelers want access to internet banking while on holiday — a requirement less important to the general traveler according to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2013.

Affluent travelers apparently do not “switch off” on holiday. They require constant contact with others with 64% accessing their e-mails and 45% accessing instant messaging platforms during their travels.

While still used, activities like sharing photos and surfing the web for leisure are less important among the affluent when they travel – dropping to 34% and 31% respectively.

Predictably, this group also loves their devices, carrying higher-end gadgets such as DSLR cameras (32%) and lifestyle devices such as e-book readers (12%) and tablets (37%) when they travel. 

While upscale travelers have a particular destination in mind while planning for their trips, they are becoming bolder when it comes to exploring unchartered terrains with eight out of 10 affluent travelers indicating in Visa’s Study that they will visit new destinations in the future.

They will be trendsetters in growing visitor numbers to beach destinations in East Africa. When asked which countries in East Africa they would consider traveling to 44% chose Mauritius and 40% listed Madagascar – compared to the global average of 33%.

Considering the affluent take more holidays a year – an average of four trips a year – despite the propensity to explore new destinations, modernized cities of the USA, UK and Australia still top their top holiday destinations for the next year.

Affluent travelers enjoy independent holidays and are more willing to pay extra for someone to help arrange a customized holiday.

“The definition of luxury has evolved, and today it is more about experiences than about possessions,” said James Lim, Head of Consumer Products, Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, Visa. “While exclusivity and high quality service remain essential in reaching out to the affluent, the new tide of affluent travelers who are bolder in their choices demand a sense of adventure and personalized experiences to meet their individual interests. They want to discover places, cultures, and experiences unknown to others. Understanding their needs, Visa designs bespoke travel itineraries and exclusive privileges at luxury hotels and resorts for our premium card holders.” (FREEMAN)