The New Era of ‘Safety First’ Travelers

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. As travelers start to rediscover the world again, it’s not surprising that the majority (79%) are planning to take more health and safety related precautions when traveling in the future with over half (59%) opting to avoid certain destinations altogether due to safety concerns.

This safety-first attitude is even more apparent in regions that have experienced strict lockdown measures in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, including travelers from India (71%), China (67%) and South Korea (65%) who will be far more likely to avoid certain destinations. Likewise, travelers living in countries with less strict travel restrictions have shown less concern in avoiding certain countries, including travelers from the Netherlands (32%), Sweden (47%) and Germany (49%).

Nonetheless, travelers are willing to play their part with 67% happy to travel to destinations where health spot checks on arrival are standard and 62% where it’s mandatory to wear a face mask in public.

Unsurprisingly, travelers will look to the travel industry for reassurance with 68% expecting travel providers to clearly outline the safety precautions they’re taking and 43% agreeing that a clear display of cleaning and hygiene policies is now a must have.

In response to a rise in demand from travelers wanting greater awareness of a property’s health and safety features, Booking.com now ensures properties’ safety measures (such as hygiene, sanitisation, physical distancing) are clearly visible on the property page, so travelers can have a peace of mind when booking their next trip. With over 14 million listings on Booking.com now having implemented health and safety measures, the platform is making it easier for everyone to experience the world, in the way that fits their needs.

To delve deeper into Booking.com’s predictions for the Future of Travel, including how Safety Cleans Up, visit https://www.booking.com/articles/category/future-of-travel.html.

About Booking.com
Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences, a range of transportation options and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for both established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes, Booking.com enables properties all over the world to reach a global audience and grow their businesses. Booking.com is available in 44 languages and offers more than 28 million total reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.5 million listings alone of homes, apartments and other unique places to stay. No matter where you want to go or what you want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer support.

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