ITB Berlin and Statista have published the results of a survey on travel behaviour in Germany, the US and China, investigating travel plans for 2021. It suggests that the end of the pandemic will spur long-term growth and there will also be a major shift to domestic tourism. This could mean an inconsistent recovery for medical travel in the short term.
The survey showed many respondents in Germany, the USA and China are thinking about private trips this year. 37% of Germans, 42% of Americans and 66% of Chinese are planning one or more trips. In China there is significant pent-up demand for travel.
The findings show personal safety is very important on a trip, and that well-being is more important than travel choices.
The majority of people not planning to travel this year say this is due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On their future travel plans, 35% of German respondents, 38% of Americans and 50% of Chinese believe their travel behaviour will change long-term. A major change is towards more domestic trips.
As figures from the UK and Ireland emerge of massive, unprecedented numbers on waiting lists and the longest ever recorded waiting times for operations, there is significant pent up demand for medical treatment that local private healthcare and overseas medical tourism treatment may need to cater for later in 2021. The predicted focus on domestic trips and personal safety however could mean an inconsistent and highly variable recovery in medical travel in the short term.
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