Almost two-thirds of international travellers are eager to travel immediately after the lifting of international travel restrictions or within a year thereof, according to SA Tourism’s survey on international traveller post-COVID-19 preferences, conducted in May.

Millennials aged 25-34, with their perceived lower vulnerability to COVID-19, are likely to be the first to travel. These consumers are less risk-averse and remain intent on travel within 2020, despite the pandemic.

Tourists over 65 years old were the next most likely group to express positivity about international travel. The age group 35-54 appears to be the most negative about future travel, with 56% of respondents expressing negative international travel intentions.

Travellers without children are most likely to travel to international destinations, with 55% expressing positive travel intentions, while 49% of travellers with kids over 18 also showed positivity about international travel.

Although millennials are at the forefront of tourism recovery, those aged 55 and above are the most inclined to make their first post-COVID trip an international one.

Of these travellers, 57% want nature and the scenic outdoors as their experience on their first trip post-COVID, making South Africa a natural choice. Those who expressed a preference for South Africa as their first post-COVID trip, quoted the top-three reasons for their choice as safari, visiting friends and relatives and viewing the scenery.

Of international millennial travellers, 68% are ready to travel as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.

The online sampling survey by SA Tourism’s Strategy Insights and Analytics team solicited the views of international tourists who have visited South Africa in the past three years.