Hyperloop trains, flying on supersonic aircraft, traveling on smart motorways or getting from A to B in autonomous drones — when consumers hear about how travel will look in the future, they are excited, but apprehensive, according to a new survey commissioned by Travelzoo in partnership with ITB Berlin.
Travel in the Future
In the survey, consumers were first asked about how they expect to travel in the future. Self-driving cars on "smart highways" are already being tested, so it is no surprise that just over half of consumers (51%) expect to see them become the norm by 2030.
This was followed by aircraft powered by alternative fuels (36%), and hyperloops (31%), both of which are already being developed by a variety of established brands and start-ups. Less than a third (28%) expect to see the return of supersonic flights in the next 12 years — this is despite Concorde proving the technology works, and claims from manufacturers like Boom Supersonic that flights will begin by 2022.
Travelers are strongly aligned on the benefits of such new technologies, with nearly three quarters (74%) agreeing that the expected reduction in emissions, congestion and reliance on traditional fuel sources will improve the environment. Many also highlight anticipated faster travel times (88%) and reducing the stress of travel (63%) as benefits.
Consumers Lacking Trust
However, when it comes to pilotless aircraft or autonomous, passenger-carrying drones, consumers are far more cautious in their expectations around adoption. Only one in five (20%) believe they will become the norm by 2030. Indeed, such is the scepticism, that a significantly higher percentage (38%) state they'd prefer to risk teleportation, a technology that doesn't even exist yet, to get to or from their holiday.
Confidence in autonomous flight technology is very low among respondents. Just 7% admit to a preference to use it compared to aircraft powered by alternative fuels (32%) or a supersonic jet (31%).
Overall, more than three quarters (76%) of consumers would not trust driverless or pilotless technology enough to travel in it, and 78% of travelers state they would be "very" or "quite" worried about its safety and reliability (compared to 55% for both supersonic aircraft and hyperloops).
Joel Brandon-Bravo, Travelzoo GM, UK, explains: "Advances in automation, artificial intelligence, design and materials, and pure necessity, are combining to drive a revolution in how we will travel and take holidays in the future. But our study emphasizes that there is a trust gap that must be bridged. Only 8% of respondents globally said they would be comfortable flying in a drone — so a message to the entrepreneurs and organizers rushing to be first to market is that a huge majority of their potential customers need to be convinced about safety and reliability."
Future Travel Costs Concerns
Consumers are concerned that these new forms of travel will only be available to a few to enjoy — 8 out of 10 believe they'll be a luxury only a few can afford, and 60% doubt they would make travel more affordable.
Only 4% of respondents are prepared to pay "much more" than they do now for their holiday travel — this is not good news when enormous upfront development and infrastructure costs will need to be met.
By transport type, consumers tend to associate speed with desirability, demonstrating a slight readiness to pay out "much more" for hyperloops (an average of 7% in France, Germany and Spain) and supersonic flights (10% in the UK, 17% in the USA) according to the survey, which were both forms of transport they also associate most with perceptions of luxury and convenience.
However, where automation has removed the need for human expertise or skill — such as pilotless aircraft or driverless cars — travelers are clear that they expect to pay less for using such modes of travel in the future, and so the industry needs to take note.
About the Survey: Travelzoo and ITB Berlin surveyed 6,008 consumers in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, UK and US.
