(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 21, 2009 ) WATERTOWN, Mass.—Family Travel remains a priority even in today’s economic times – a fact proven by a survey recently conducted by Thomson Family Adventures. “Despite the tough economic times, families are still finding ways to fit travel into their budgets,” says Jim Kackley, Manager of Thomson Family Adventures. “Travel is not discretionary anymore; rather it has become an integral part of our lives. In some ways, spending money on travel has become as normal as paying your electric bill.”
Take into consideration that today’s family is busier than it has ever ever been. With kids’ ever growing list of after-school activities, sports, homework and social commitments; finding time away from it all can be difficult. “Most of the parents who travel with us have done some world traveling and are keen to spend one or two weeks showing their children the world,” explains Thomson Family Adventures’ owner Judi Wineland. “They can get away from the bustle of western culture, explore the world and spend time together.” Survey respondents seem to agree. A few key points that came out in the survey:
677 families responded to the question- "has your current financial situation caused you to increase, decrease or not change the number of family vacations planned for outside of the US of five nights or more. 64 (9%) have increased the number of trips and 380 (56%) have kept the number the same.
30% of the respondents said they won't stop traveling as a family even with the current economic conditions because the kids are growing older and will be leaving home soon.
Most popular region in the world for family trips is Central America with 436 saying Costa Rica was their most likely next destination.
Cost concerns have recently changed, in the first few months of the survey- August 2008, only 34% of the respondents said cost was very important in their decision making process, by March 2009 this had grown to 58%.
When choosing a destination, 40 percent of respondents rated the presence of a distinct culture/lifestyle as being top on their list. From cultural interaction to learning about wildlife and ecology, today’s families aren’t eager to plop themselves on a beach anytime soon. “Beyond experiencing fun and educational adventures, I am hearing more and more families that express interest in some kind of volunteer opportunity in the areas we visit,” said Moo Bishop, an Adventure Travel Specialist with Thomson Family Adventures. Another indication that the desire to be a citizen of the world is making travel less of an extravagance and more of a rite of passage for today’s family.
For over 10 years, Thomson Family Adventures has worked with families to develop truly unique experiences that engage, entertain and educate young and old alike. With adventures ranging from learning photography lessons in Ecuador to trips designed specifically for parents and teens, Thomson understands what brings families together.
To learn more about adventure opportunities and rates, contact Thomson Family Adventures at 800-262-6255, or visit www.familyadventures.com
