Convenience a key priority for global travellers

Travellers’ top concerns for travel in the post-COVID crisis period are focused on simplification and convenience, according International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2022 Global Passenger Survey (GPS).The survey revealed that proximity to the airport was passengers’ main priority when choosing where to fly from (75%). This was more important than ticket price (39%).In addition, travellers were satisfied being able to pay with their preferred payment method which was available for 82% of travelers. Having access to planning and booking information in one single place was identified as being top priority.Moreover, 18% of passengers said that they offset their carbon emissions, the main reason given by those that did not was not being aware of the option (36%).Furthermore, 37% of travelers said they have been discouraged from traveling to a particular destination because of the immigration requirements. Process complexity was highlighted as the main deterrent by 65% of travelers, 12% cited costs and 8% time.Where visas are required, 66% of travelers want to obtain a visa online prior to travel, 20% prefer to go to the consulate or embassy and 14% at the airport.Lastly, 83% of travelers said they would share their immigration information to speed up the airport arrival process. While this is high, it is slightly down from the 88% recorded in 2021.Visa“Travelers have told us that barriers to travel remain. Countries with complex visa procedures are losing the economic benefits that these travelers bring. Where countries have removed visa requirements, tourism and travel economies have thrived. And for countries requiring certain categories of travelers to get visas, taking advantage of traveler willingness to use online processes and share information in advance would be a win-win solution,” said said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) recently launched the Namibia Digital Nomad Visa. The Namibia Digital Nomad Visa allows foreign professionals, who are location independent and self-sufficient, to live, work and travel hassle-free in Namibia for a definite period of time. The short term work permit is valid for three to six months. Online applications can be done on NIPDB’s website.According to Simonis Storm, “we view the Nomad Visa as a positive development not just for the local tourism sector, but also for complementary sectors. Ideas of hosting foreign workers were certainly reignited after lockdowns in 2020 and we commend the government for being forward thinking and progressive in this regard.”“We certainly maintain our positive stance on the local tourism sector supporting economic activity in the short run. With the wide value chain in tourism, we believe positive spillover benefits will support the continued economic recovery underway in other sectors as well,” Simonis Storm said.-phillep@nmh.com.na

Convenience a key priority for global travellers

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Convenience a key priority for global travellers

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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