25
November
2020
|
04:34
Europe/Amsterdam

How the pandemic is introducing a new era of ‘safety first’ travellers

Coronavirus has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. New research from Booking.com has shown that as Kiwis start to rediscover their backyard again, the majority (77%) are planning to take more health and safety related precautions when travelling in the future with almost three quarters (70%) opting to avoid certain destinations altogether due to safety concerns.

After close to a year of being unable to travel freely without worry, it’s expected that precautions will have to be taken. New Zealanders are willing to play their part in keeping themselves and the community safe, with 58% happy to travel to destinations where health spot checks on arrival are standard and 36% where it’s mandatory to wear a face mask in public.

Unsurprisingly, Kiwis will look to the travel industry for reassurance with 64% expecting travel providers to clearly outline the safety precautions they’re taking and 30% agreeing that a clear display of cleaning and hygiene policies is now a must-have.

Todd Lacey explains how Booking.com is meeting the rising demand for transparency from travellers so they can move around the country with confidence.

“New Zealanders haven’t shied away from getting back out and rediscovering New Zealand which is great for the tourism sector and at Booking.com we’re conscious of doing everything we can to provide peace of mind during uncertain times,” he says.

“We’ve made changes to ensure properties’ safety measures such as hygiene, sanitisation and physical distancing are clearly visible on the property page and are pleased that over 3,000 properties now meet these requirements. We continue to support partners to set themselves up to cater for this need so that Kiwis can travel knowing that our partners are doing everything they can to take care of them at this time.”

To delve deeper into Booking.com’s predictions for the Future of Travel, including how Safety Cleans Up, visit the website here.

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information, contact the Booking.com New Zealand Press Office;

bookingnz@thisismango.co.nz / 021 172 8037

NOTES TO EDITORS

Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who have travelled for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries were polled (including from 999 USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam and 995 from Japan). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2020.

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 travellers 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 29 million total reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.6 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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