TripAdvisor's Users Predict 2008 Trends

A press release from Tripadvisor.com last week starts "Green & Clean Freaks Dominate; Traveler Say No to Cell Phones in the Air".

Germaphobia:
"Eighty percent of respondents are concerned about germs, bacteria and viruses when traveling. Airplanes are the most germy, according to 28 percent of those polled. Public transportation was next, followed by restaurants, hotels, and airports... Forty-five percent of travelers said their worst experience at a hotel was a dirty bathroom or dirty sheets, and 17 percent said their worst experience was the presence of vermin."
JOE> I don't know what the survey actually asked, but I think it is already urban legend that airplanes circulate viruses around. Additionally, Michael Crichton along with discovery channel and National Geographic has done their part post-SARS to increase awareness of how fast diseases can spread because of the ease of international travel. Lastly, if you ask a bunch of people what their "worst experience at a hotel is" and they answer something else besides dirty bathroom or dirty sheets, then you take notice. 45% saying that is a good thing; too bad it is not higher. The 17% presence of vermin - now that is disturbing. I am glad I have not experienced that in one-fifth of my hotel stays; I can't remember if I have had that experience in the last few years actually. Where do these 17% of the people stay anyway? Motel 8?

Go Green:
"Twenty-six percent of respondents said they will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions in the coming year. The green trend may be evident in their choice of transportation -- 22 percent said they'll go biking while on vacation this year, compared to 13 percent, last year. Forty-seven percent of travelers plan to go hiking this year, up from 43 percent, last year."
JOE> Wait... how does taking biking or hiking vacation make you any more environmentally friendly? I mean.. you are still taking a plane to get there right? Are you going further on the plane to get to that out of the way destination? That flight to the mountains might be half full rather than the full flight to a major city (fuller flights are more efficients and have lower carbon emission per passenger.).

Mobile Phones:
"Seventy-eight percent of travelers believe that mobile phones should not be allowed on flights."
JOE> So even if they were allowed on flights, the roaming fees would be freaking exorbitant. Look at what happened to Connexion by Boeing for internet access on flights. Crashed and burned because they charged too much. Let's hope some poor startup listens to TripAdvisor and keep their money in their pockets for another day.

Skewed Survey?
"Thirty-two percent of travelers (and 34 percent of Americans) are planning to engage in educational activity on vacation this year, such as a cooking or art class, up from 25 percent (and 28 percent of Americans), last year. Sixty percent of respondents from the U.S. said that the possibility of terrorism is still a consideration when planning where to go on their next vacation. Forty-five percent of Americans said the possibility of natural disasters (such as a hurricane, tsunami or earthquake) is on their mind, and 36 percent said the cost of fuel influences where to go on their next vacation, despite the recent decline in gas prices. Five percent said uncertainty with mortgage rates is affecting the way they plan travel in the next year, and six percent said the volatile stock market is affecting their travel decisions."
JOE: "US", "Americans"... how many of these 2500 surveyed were actually non-Americans? Is the press release skewed towards the US press or is the survey? Enquiring minds want to know.

R-rated to X-rated Vacations
"Twenty-four percent of travelers said they are likely to dress more provocatively while on vacation and 19 percent of travelers have had to impose the "whatever happens in X destination, stays in X destination" rule with their travel partners. Twelve percent of respondents have been to a clothing-optional or adults-only resort."
Joe> Again who is being surveyed? It looks like 12% are Europeans. At least 19% have been to Vegas. And 24% are women (men dress provocatively?).

Top 3 World Destinations:
1) Jerba, Tunisia
2) Makandi Bay, Egypt
3) Phang Nga, Thailand
JOE> So those survey either watched Travel Channel a lot or they watched a lot of E! Wild On with Tara Reid (where she just runs around in exotic destinations getting drunk.). I mean those aren't destination that just immediately come into your mind when you ask people. But then again, if TV is influencing people, then what else is new. It's just that those locations are just too small to support being "Top" destinations. Talk about being anti-ecotourism; just tell the world this tiny little place is the TOP destination. I am not going to those places next year; if I don't make it this year, then I won't bother because it will be trampled by 2009.