Decolar, the Brazilian subsidiary of the Argentinian travel firm Despegar, launched this Monday some of the industry trends that it expects to take place in a post-pandemic scenario. According to the company, trends such as trips within the country and flexible reservations were detected based on the experience of more than 18 million customers on its sales platforms.
“Despite the great impact of the pandemic on the sector, the passion for travel is a trait of Brazilians. We are noticing a growing increase in searches for national trips, mainly to beach destinations, and even international ones. This is important because tourism has a fundamental impact on local economies,” says Alexandre Moshe, general director of Decolar.
National travel
Decolar predicts that resumption begins in the domestic market, with short trips of up to 3 hours by car to the countryside or coast.
In this second semester, the company has also seen that interest in air travel is growing. “Searches for trips for the Christmas and New Year’s Eve periods are already above the standard for that time, which shows that the consumer is eager to travel and is planning ahead,” says Moshe.
“When the easing of social isolation began, between June and July, in the main capitals of the country, we noticed an acceleration in the pace of sales, which today are equivalent to about 30% of the number of transactions in the pre-pandemic months. It is a sign of confidence in a gradual process of recovery ”, he adds.
Outdoor experiences
According to the OTA, travelers are also opting for destinations that offer direct contact with nature and avoiding crowded spaces, due to isolation and social distancing concerns. “It is an opportunity, as Brazil has many destinations that are distinguished by this contact with nature and natural beauty, some of which are little explored,” the executive points out.
Flexible reservations
According to Decolar, when it comes to planning a trip, the flexibility to reschedule dates is a growing point of attention amid Brazilian consumers in this new phase of tourism.
Health protocols
Driven by health and safety concerns, consumers are preferentially looking for accommodations and services that comply with specific health protocols, says the company. Eying this behavior, the company says it will implement biosafety stamps on its products and services available in its platforms.
Travel insurance
Decolar has also identified that travel insurance will be a product more demanded by consumers, mainly on international trips. Last week, the Brazilian government partially released air borders for foreigners with the requirement for travel insurance. In the case of lacking proof of purchase of this item, the traveler may be prevented from entering the country.
“The pandemic has accelerated the preference for online transactions, including in the tourism sector. For this reason, the company is investing even more in technological innovations that enable self-management of travel for consumers,” says Decolar in a press release. The company has also announced the development of new features in its app, such as location service for identifying the baggage conveyor after flights and augmented reality for checking the size of hand luggage.
The travel company has been showing signs of recovery. Between June and July, sales of the Brazilian subsidiary accounted for 30% of transactions recorded in the same period in 2019.
