Travel budgets in Africa and the Middle East are set to increase, according to Visa’s latest Global Intentions Study 2013.
The study surveyed 12 631 travellers from 25 countries across the globe and shows that, while travellers from Africa and the Middle East have trimmed their travel budgets, their appetite for travel remains healthy. The research showed that 76% of respondents had travelled in the past two years and 76% of these trips were for leisure.
The study also placed South African travellers fifth among the top-five spenders, with an average spend of US$2 888 (R28 880) on their last trip. Four of the top five biggest spenders came from emerging markets. Saudi Arabia led the global pool of countries with the highest average spend per trip of US$6 666 (R66 660).
“Despite the climate of economic uncertainty and the relatively weak global economy, the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2013 hints at a change in both the financial landscape and consumer mind set, suggesting either economic recovery or a growing appetite for travel globally,” says Mandy Lamb, acting gm for Visa sub-Saharan Africa.
The study showed that 91% of African and Middle East respondents intended to travel in the next two years and that African and Middle East travellers spent an average of US$3 267 (R32 670) per trip. The global travel and tourism industry is also set to grow at an average of 4% annually over the next 10 years.
