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Anumber of reports have forecast a strong recovery for the high-end luxury market, with wellheeled travellers spending big post lockdowns.

According to experts at Virtuoso’s 34th annual Travel Week, which was held in Las Vegas, outbound leisure travel sales have shown a strong rebound even in markets that had experienced hard border closures.

The American market has outperformed its 2019 numbers by 122 per cent in 2022, while Australians were not far behind on 113 per cent. People travelling with spouses or significant others represented the largest segment of holidaymakers, followed by those travelling with friends and, lastly, those holidaying with children. Interestingly, solo travel is on the rise, particularly from the 65-plus age group: there has been an increase from four per cent to a staggering 18 per cent in 2022. The study also found younger, richer travellers are getting out there, with the 18–34 age group averaging 2.2 more international trips in the past year than the 65-plus age group, as well as 1.3 more domestic trips.

Around 74 per cent of Virtuoso’s luxury travellers say “creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price”, with plans to increase their previous year’s spend of USD$20,700 per person by 34 per cent to USD$27,800 in the next year.

In terms of destinations, market research firm Global Market Insights found tourists are looking for safari experiences, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The Middle East and Africa region is increasingly becoming more popular for animal watching, due to its sheer biodiversity.

The report also found luxury travellers are planning their holidays around adventure and sporting events. For the American market, agents are creating bespoke packages that allow travellers to attend events like the Super Bowl.

Due to the surge in disposable income, the Asia-Pacific luxury tourism market is booming, accounting for more than 28 per cent of travel in 2021. Australians are demanding more upscale and unique experiences.

Islands and beaches are topping travellers’ lists for holidays, followed by trips with a wellness component or an ocean cruise. Wellness-focused trips were the only category to see a year-over-year increase compared to other categories: 2021 (13 per cent) versus 2022 (24 per cent).

And now more than ever, people are looking to disconnect from their routines and two years of lockdown. More than ever, these travellers say looking to connect with new people, cultures and ideas is their primary reason for travel in 2022, with purpose-driven travel still paramount.

Environmentally friendly practices and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage are top-of-mind concerns, especially among generation Z and Millennials. Fifty-six per cent of generation Z travellers and 46 per cent of Millennials are willing to pay more for eco-friendly tourism practices and travel that preserves natural and cultural heritage. CT