TORONTO — What will matter most to travellers post-pandemic and how will they want to give back to local communities? G Adventures found the answers in a new survey of more than 1,000 Canadians.

The survey, says founder Bruce Poon Tip, was designed to reveal travellers’ ‘retravel resolutions’ in terms of why they want to head out into the world again, what’s most important to them when they do, and how will they change their travel behaviours to have a more positive impact on the planet and its people.

The results, adds Poon Tip, will give agents even more reason to book their clients now for travel later, once restrictions are lifted.

“It’s apparent travellers want their holidays to be more meaningful after this forced hiatus for international travel. They want their money to support local people in the destinations they go to and the best way for people to show their support now is to make a commitment to travel, so these communities can benefit later,” he said.

“We understand there’s uncertainty in terms of when people will be able to travel, but with our flexible booking conditions customers can have peace of mind as well as a trip booked to look forward to when restrictions lift. We know there is pent-up demand building so now is the time to be booking ahead,” added Poon Tip.

Here are some key findings from the survey:

REASONS TO TRAVEL AGAIN

When asked the main reason why they wanted to travel again, the top answer from respondents was to immerse themselves in a different culture (64%), followed by the desire to reconnect with the world (57%). One-third of respondents (34%) are also looking to connect with nature on their next international trip.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO TRAVELLERS?

When it comes to what is important to Canadians when they travel again, the majority consider the most important factor in their holiday choice to be that their money benefits local people (77%), followed by ensuring wildlife is protected where they go (51%). Nearly half of travellers (49%) want to avoid over-touristed destinations on their next trip, with 63% of Canadians stating that they will visit more remote places/less visited areas of a destination when they retravel.

BIG SMALL ACTIONS

Respondents were also asked to commit to one ‘big small action’ they could take when international travel returns. The most common commitment was to support local people and businesses at 37%, followed closely by doing more research before they book their trip (34%). Another 17% of travellers said making a commitment to reduce plastic and/or bring a reusable bottle with them when they go.

For travel agents interested in learning more about community tourism, G Adventures is hosting the latest in its series of ‘Retravel Live’ events on Jan. 27 at 12 p.m. EST. ‘Retravel Life: The Power of Community Tourism’ event will feature responsible travel experts Audrey Scott (co-founder, Uncornered Market), Judy Kepher Gona (director, Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda), and Jamie Sweeting (president, Planeterra) who will speak about the positive impact of community tourism. To register go to https://retravellive.com.