Understanding Generation Z
In a new study, the European Travel Commission (ETC) reports that Generation Z Travellers believe that tourism benefits local communities, while also being aware of the personal benefits of travel, such as understanding other cultures and building life experiences and self-confidence.
As the world’s youngest population grows, becomes more affluent and begins to travel, it is likely to cause major changes in consumer travel demand. Understanding Gen Z travellers and their concerns and motivations is fundamental to evaluating how demand for tourism could evolve in the years to come, and how it could impact tourism in Europe and worldwide.
As a hyper-connected generation, Gen Z grew up in an era of unprecedented awareness about human behaviour, personal health, technology and humankind’s impact on the environment.
Major issues that have grown in importance since the start of the 21st century, such as globalization, the 2008 financial crisis, terrorism, climate change, and advances in technology have played a strong role in shaping Gen Zers’ attitudes and beliefs, and by extension, their travel behaviour.
The study includes a quantitative research carried among 2,800 Gen Zers aged 18-24 in China, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States to reveal their travel preferences and global outlook.
As well, the survey found that among Gen Z, the top reasons for choosing a travel destination are value for money (47%), availability of cheap flights (45%) and safety and security (42%).
When it comes to accommodation however, more than 1 in 3 respondents said they would most likely choose an upscale 4 or 5-star hotel suggesting that Gen Zers are happy to mix budget and luxury experiences for self-reward or when set against the cost of cheaper modes of transport.
As for future trips to Europe, trying locally produced food and drinks is their top priority (75%) followed by discovering the local urban culture (67%) and doing cultural activities, such as visiting museums and concerts (62%).
And not surprisingly, smartphones are the most important devices for Generation Z when researching and booking trips, as well as for making trip cancellations and changes. Chinese Gen Zers show a particularly strong preference for using smartphones for trip research (70%), underlining the importance for local tourism businesses of having mobile-friendly content and enabling payments through apps such as WeChat.
The study also confirmed that Gen Z is growing up as a globally aware generation, conscious of their own responsibility towards the environment and the society around them. Climate change was cited by more than half of Gen Zers in Germany, the UK and the US as the issue most important to them (52%) followed by mental health issues (43%) and crime & justice (40%). Inspired by Gen Zers such as Greta Thunberg, attitudes among Gen Zers in the UK and Germany around aviation tax and mobility appear to differ sharply from their older counterparts.
These attitudes towards the environment and mental health are among the issues that Europe’s national tourism organizations (NTOs) will have to be aware of as they shape policy and marketing efforts around the demands of a distinctive generation. Recommendations around these essential topics are included in the report, as well as ‘12 trends driven by Gen Z that will shape the future of travel in Europe’ to help guide the policy agendas of European NTOs in the medium to long term.
Today Gen Zers are facing a disruption to their education, careers and future job prospects, while fearing for their health (already a major issue for this generation) and the health of their loved ones.
The study offers some preliminary insights on the impact of COVID-19 on Gen Zers attitudes towards restriction measures to curb the spread of the virus, travel and freedom and suggests that the uncovered travel patterns and attitudes will likely continue post-coronavirus.
To review the report, go to https://etc-corporate.org/reports/study-on-generation-z-travellers/ .
