TORONTO — Pent-up travel demand is real, says Sunwing, especially now with more Canadians getting vaccinated and borders beginning to reopen.

According to a new survey commissioned by the company between July 19-20, 2021, more than half (58%) of Canadians plan on returning to travel in the next 12 months, with over two-thirds (68%) of those respondents indicating they are interested in an all-inclusive vacation. What’s more, 57% of Canadians with at least one dose of the vaccine intend on travelling this upcoming holiday season.

“As we emerge from the pandemic following almost a year without travel, we’re seeing more demand than ever before,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations at Sunwing. “As our research shows, holiday and winter departures are becoming increasingly popular as Canadians look to make up for last year’s lockdown. We’re already seeing some of the most popular resorts selling out on key winter dates, which rarely happens so early in the booking cycle. We recommend travellers book soon to secure their piece of paradise under our wing.”

The survey also found that there is a growing interest in group bookings, with younger travellers especially eager to vacation as a group. Almost 40% of respondents aged 18-34 indicated they would be travelling with friends on their next getaway.

Moreover, over one-third (38%) of all respondents who plan on travelling in the next 12 months indicated an interest in vacationing with family members, while nearly three-quarters (71%) expressed an intent to travel with their partner or significant other.

“We’re seeing some exciting new travel trends emerge as Canadians plan their highly anticipated vacations,” said Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunwing. “Group getaways are becoming increasingly sought after as family and friends plan to reunite at an all-inclusive resort, while travelling with a significant other is another popular choice. This shows that there is heightened demand for frictionless vacation experiences – just book, travel and enjoy.”

Additional survey insights include: 

• Residents of British Columbia are significantly more likely to be planning leisure travel this holiday season, with 71% indicating they would be travelling this winter;
• 68% of respondents from across the country who plan on travelling within the next year are interested in an all-inclusive vacation, with the most interest from Saskatchewan and Manitoba (78%) and Atlantic Canada (73%);
• Respondents from British Columbia (71%), Saskatchewan (64%) and Alberta (61%) were most interested in travelling during the upcoming holiday season.

Sunwing will be resuming flights to select destinations starting on July 30, 2021. Customers who book by Aug. 9, 2021 can enjoy flexible booking options, including the ability to change or cancel anytime with ease, complimentary Price Drop Cash Back of up to $800 per couple at select resort and convenient monthly payment options.