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Round the World Travel/Backpacking - UK
Mintel International Group Ltd. - 5/1/2006 - 71 Pages - ID: GN1293976
URL: http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?productid=1293976

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Abstract

Around the world travel is not a new phenomenon by any means, but perceptions have changed. Previously it was readily associated with year-out budget travel and ‘backpacking’. In the new millennium however, Round the World travel (RTW) has taken on a more upmarket, short-duration, package-driven form. This new mainstream product is less adventurous, favouring the English-speaking continents of North America and Australasia and high-end comfort and organisation.

In comparison, the traditional perception is that backpacking holidays are taken on a low budget, staying in hostels and using the cheapest available forms of transport. This market undoubtedly still exists, but it is also dominated by the two aforementioned continents, and characterised by short-duration trips.

RTW and backpacking trips are increasingly taken by moneyed, full time professionals existing either side of the young family lifestage era. This equates to more lucrative accommodation and flight opportunities for operators and suppliers, and there is an overriding demand for comfort and the peace of mind from pre-booked arrangements. Could these most independent of markets have developed into a new, less adventurous package opportunity for the industry, or are the backpacking pioneers ready to wave off their children and get back on the road?

Backpacking remains a budget opportunity for the younger demographic groups, but third age virgins and ageing veterans alike now present new markets seeking a more comfortable and better-budgeted experience. However, there also exists a strong group of aspirational travellers who are keen to either resume the travels of their youth or make up for the lack of finance, experience or time, which hindered them from doing so when they were younger. 
 
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION AND ABBREVIATIONS
Definition
Consumer research
ACORN
ABBREVIATIONS


SUMMARY OF KEY REPORT FINDINGS
Massive potential
Student market stands firm
Internet - the perfect medium
Stereotypes must be challenged
Adventurous greys require comfort
Catch them whilst they’re young
The future


MARKET FACTORS
Economic factors
Figure 1: Trends in personal disposable income and consumer expenditure, 2001-11
Demographic factors
Figure 2: Trends in the age structure of the UK population, by gender, 2001-11
Socio-economic population
Figure 3: Forecast adult population trends, by socio-economic group, 2001-11
Lifestage
Figure 4: Forecast adult population trends, by lifestage, 2001-11
Internet penetration
Figure 5: Internet penetration, by gender, age and socio-economic group, 2001-06
Multiple holidays
Figure 6: Proportion of holidaymakers and number of holidays taken in the last 12 months, 2000-05
Student population and funding
Figure 7: Total number of students in Further and Higher Education, 1990/91-2003/04
Figure 8: Value and number of student loans, 1994/95-2004/05

MARKET SIZE AND SEGMENTATION
Figure 9: RTW & backpacking estimated customers and potential customers, 2004-06
HOLIDAY BACKGROUND
Total overseas holidays and expenditure
Figure 10: Overseas holidays and expenditure, at constant and current prices, 2001-06
Destinations
Figure 11: Outbound holiday visits, by region visited, 2000-05
Figure 12: UK holiday visits, by country of destination, 2000-04
Figure 13: UK holiday visits and nights, by country of destination and organisation, 2004
Figure 14: UK holiday spending by country, of destination and organisation, 2004
Duration
Figure 15: Short (1-3 nights) versus long holidays (4+ nights), by volume and value, 2001-06
Organisation
Figure 16: Inclusive holidays versus independent holidays, by volume, 2001-06

THE SUPPLY STRUCTURE
TRAVEL INTERMEDIARIES
Ebookerscom
Gold Medal Travel Group
The Real Gap Experience
Roundtheworldflightscom
STA Travel
Trailfinders Ltd
Travel Nation
AIRLINE ALLIANCES
Figure 17: Airline alliances, 2005
Oneworld
SkyTeam
Star Alliance
LOW-COST AIR NETWORKS
Examples of RTW fares

THE CONSUMER
ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIPS
Figure 18: Experience of and attitudes towards round-the-world travel, February 2006
Round-the-world trips by demographics
Figure 19: Experience of and attitudes towards round-the-world travel, by gender, age, socio-economic group, working and marital status, February 2006
Figure 20: Experience of and attitudes towards round-the-world travel, by region and ACORN group, February 2006
Figure 21: Experience of and attitudes towards round-the-world travel, by detailed lifestage group, February 2006
Figure 22: Experience of and attitudes towards round-the-world travel, by daily and Sunday newspaper readership, Internet usage, TV reception, supermarket usage and commercial TV viewing, February 2006
TYPE OF TRIPS TAKEN
Figure 23: Experiences of round-the-world trips, February 2006
BACKPACKING TRIPS
Figure 24: Experience of and attitudes towards backpacking, February 2006
Backpacking trips by demographics
Figure 25: Backpacking trips taken, by gender, age, socio-economic group, working and marital status, February 2006
Figure 26: Backpacking trips taken, by region and ACORN group, February 2006
Figure 27: Backpacking trips taken, by detailed lifestage groups, February 2006
Figure 28: Backpacking trips taken, by daily and Sunday newspaper readership, Internet usage, TV reception, supermarket usage and commercial TV viewing, February 2006
Type of trips taken
Figure 29: Types of backpacking trips taken, February 2006
COMBINATION OF ROUND-THE-WORLD AND BACKPACKING TRIPS
Figure 30: Round-the-world travel, by backpacking trips taken, February 2006
Figure 31: Backpacking, by round-the-world trips taken, February 2006

THE CONSUMER - DETAILED DEMOGRAPHICS
Types of RTW trips taken by demographics
Figure 32: Type of round-the-world trips taken, by gender, age, socio-economic group, working and marital status, February 2006
Figure 33: Type of round-the-world trips taken, by region and ACORN group, February 2006
Figure 34: Type of round-the-world trips taken, by detailed lifestage group, February 2006
Figure 35: Type of round-the-world trips taken, by daily and Sunday newspaper readership, Internet usage, TV reception, supermarket usage and commercial TV viewing, February 2006
Types of backpacking trip by demographics
Figure 36: Types of backpacking trips taken, by gender, age, socio-economic group, working and marital status, February 2006
Figure 37: Types of backpacking trips taken, by region and ACORN group, February 2006
Figure 38: Types of backpacking trips taken, by detailed lifestage group, February 2006
Figure 39: Types of backpacking trips taken, by daily and Sunday newspaper readership, Internet usage, TV reception, supermarket usage and commercial TV viewing, February 2006

THE FUTURE
Expected growth in market
Connect with techno travellers
Grown-up gappers
Continued consolidation and low-cost growth


FORECAST
SCENARIO-BASED FORECAST
Scenario 1
Figure 40: Forecast of RTW & backpacking target groups, Scenario 1, 2006 and 2011
Scenario 2
Figure 41: Forecast of RTW & backpacking target groups, Scenario 2, 2006 and 2011
Scenario 3
Figure 42: Forecast of backpacking target group, Scenario 3, 2006 and 2011
Figure 43: Demographic breakdown of the target groups, February 2006

APPENDIX: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY