Based on the results of the survey, it would seem that whether they are setting sail or staying on dry land, a significant portion of South Africans intend to keep their holidays local for the time being.
When asked where they are likely to go on their next vacation, 14% of survey respondents said somewhere in South Africa and 9% planned to venture slightly further afield in southern Africa. However, an overwhelming majority (28%) have their sights set on Europe, showing that more and more people are getting comfortable with the idea of international travel once again.
Unsurprisingly, over 92% of the survey respondents rated strict health and safety protocols as 'very important' or 'important' when it comes to deciding whether to cruise or not in a Covid-19 world.
Other notable considerations highlighted by respondents as 'very important' or 'important' were favourable travel regulations in their home country and chosen destination (92%), ease of air access and visas (92%), good deals (92%), and overall cruise experience (76%).
“Knowing how critical the overall cruise experience is for the cruiser in a Covid world, it is vital to establish what factors play a part in maximising this experience from start to finish,” stated Riet Goetschalckx, director of sales and marketing at Oceania Cruises.
According to the survey respondents, 96% insist that ease of travel is either 'very important' or 'important'. Value for money came in next with 95% agreeing on its importance. Visiting multiple destinations on one trip followed in third place with 84% highlighting this as a must for a memorable cruise encounter.
The results also showed that over 52% liked the idea of cruising on larger contemporary ships, while 42% preferred the idea of taking to the waters on premium, smaller ships and 26% were interested in exploring the prospect of river cruising.
A majority of 52% favoured shorter cruises of between 7–10 days, while 34% preferred their cruises to last 11–14 days. While 24% were still undecided, Mediterranean cruises were a firm favourite amongst the respondents, with 31% selecting the Mediterranean as their preferred cruise destination. Cruises to Northern Europe were also popular with 16% hoping to explore the option in the coming months or years.
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