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As the festive season approaches, travelers worldwide are packing their bags for one of the busiest travel periods of the year – but not without a little help from technology.
If the idea of using AI as your personal travel assistant sounds appealing, you’re not alone. This year, holiday travel trends reveal not only a continued preference for domestic trips but notably, people are turning to AI platforms to craft their perfect holiday itineraries. From hunting for the best flight deals to discovering hidden gems, travelers are embracing technology to save cost and time.
We used CintSnap – a way to survey individuals and understand opinions quickly – polling approximately 300 people in the US and UK to get an idea of travel plans this season and what the current and future state of AI planning for travel looks like.
Home sweet home for the holidays or leaving on a jet plane?
Both Americans and Brits show a strong preference for staying closer to home when it comes to holiday travels, although international travel proves slightly more popular to Brits.
In the United States, 45% of respondents are planning to travel domestically with only 8% considering international destinations. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, 31% plan to travel within the country, with a slightly higher 36% venturing beyond the island.
A pattern suggesting that although international travel is rebounding, domestic trips remain the most popular choice.
Preferred destinations and reason for travel
When it comes to preferred types of destinations, city breaks and rural countryside destinations emerge as top choices for people across both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, 34% are planning a city trip, while 20% prefer rural or countryside getaways. A similar figure is reflected in the UK at 35% and 23% respectively.
A large part of the holidays is about spending time with loved ones, which our data unsurprisingly backed up. Over half of respondents will be traveling to reconnect with family and friends:
In the US
52% are traveling to be with friends and family, with 18% traveling for leisure and only 3% for business
In the UK
58% plan to see family and friends, with 18% for leisure and 2% for business.
The rise of AI in holiday travel planning
In recent years, AI tools have gained traction among travelers for their convenience and ability to streamline planning processes. We decided to take a deeper look into this trend. Slightly over a third of people in both the US (38%) and UK (36%) reported using AI to assist with their travel planning.
And when looking toward the future, a similar trend emerges for travelers in both countries, with 56% of Americans and 55% of Brits saying they are likely or very likely to use AI tools for future travel planning.
AI’s most valued functions for travel planning
For those using AI, the following functions stand out as particularly helpful:
- Flight and accommodation deals are the most valued, cited by 24% of UK and 23% of US respondents.
- Itinerary and activity planning comes next, with 16% in the UK and 18% in the US finding it helpful.
- Restaurant and attraction recommendations follow, with 9% of UK and 13% of US respondents using AI for this purpose.
- Translations to local languages are also a valued feature, helping 8% of UK and 10% of US travelers.
Cost savings comes out top on the list, meanwhile the ability to create well-rounded, convenient travel experiences is also particularly valued.
Benefits and concerns of using AI in travel planning
So what about the main benefits of adopting AI for planning travel itineraries? Saving time was the top choice in both the US (25%) and the UK (29%). This was followed by the ability for AI to craft personalized recommendations and manage travel budgets.
Despite the benefits, there are still concerns about using AI for travel, with privacy being the top issue in both the US and UK. Accuracy of recommendations followed closely, but with the rapid speed at which technology is evolving, this may be less of a concern on future polls.
For others, resistance in the form of avoiding being overly reliant on technology and preferring an old-fashioned personal touch were notable concerns.
Only a fifth (20%) in the US had no concerns, while 14% in the UK were unbothered.
While AI is increasingly popular, our data suggests that people may still be cautious about privacy and the perceived “human” aspect of their experiences.
Future outlook of AI in travel planning
As AI technology advances, its role in travel planning will likely continue to grow, offering personalized, efficient, and accessible options that can enhance our overall holiday experiences. Will you be integrating AI into your holiday travel plans? Or do you prefer to reach out for your trusty Lonely Planet collection?
Head to our LinkedIn page to join the conversation.
Methodology
A ‘CintSnap’ is a snapshot into the minds of general consumers. The data featured was pulled using the Cint platform and leverages Cint’s programmatic research tech. A census demographic of approximately 300 people in the United States and the United Kingdom were surveyed for each question within a 3 hour window on the 6th November, 2024.
Cint’s research technology helps our customers to post questions and get answers from real people, in real time – and to use these insights to build business strategies, publish research, and accurately measure the impact of advertising efforts. Find out more here.
