Originally from Ireland, Oonagh Shiel is a journalist, travel expert and the most tenured member of the Cheapflights.com content team. A mother of three, Oonagh writes with first hand authority about travel trends and top destinations as well as the challenges of traveling with children. She was kind enough to answer some travel related questions we thought Tripline users might find interesting.
Q&A with Oonagh Shiel
What are the main differences you see between European travelers and American travelers?
European travelers generally have the luxury of more travel time. They also live in closer proximity to other countries and other cultures and, thanks to the European Union, can travel with minimal hassle across neighboring borders. In the US, a surprisingly large percentage of the population does not hold a passport. In a country as vast and diverse as the US, many feel there is plenty to see and do without having to clear Customs. So, traditionally, the travel profile of an European vs. an American has been rather different.
Do you see a shift in the travel habits of either region. Is either one moving in a different direction or becoming more or less alike?
Both are spreading their wings more. The last couple of years has created a breed of value-based travelers who will go further to get a better return on their money and time. In Europe, we saw an upswing in travel to the Middle East and the eastern end of Europe last year when people were looking to to get outside the pricey Eurozone. Western Europe is now seeing growing attention again as well as savvy travelers are recognizing that economic bailouts have driven down travel costs. In the US, travelers are willing to fly a little further to get more for their money. South America is an emerging destination for winter sun. Our Rising Stars Reports, which tracked emerging hot spots, also showed that people are going deeper into “exotic” countries, meaning they don’t just go to Rio de Janeiro when hitting Brazil but rather Cuiaba or Iguassu Falls. Beijing, China, is starting to be a draw but so are Shenyang and Fuzhou.
In your experience how has the global recession affected each of these travel groups?
We see people who felt the pain when their vacation was taken away or curtailed for a year or two and are more adamant than ever about travel. They tie it to points of passion. Voluntourism is a major trend. So are trips tied to cooking classes or wine tasting or health and fitness goals. Many people are drawn to “green” destinations. They want travel with a purpose. And, as we mentioned above, they are savvy, value shoppers who will try new things or new places to get the most out of a trip.
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