Looking for a remote destination not yet overrun by tourists? Consider Mars — you might not be the only one.
A recent report by Switchfly indicates that a small but notable portion of travelers expect space travel to become part of their future plans. In a survey of 2,017 U.S. adults conducted by Harris for Switchfly, 5 percent of respondents said they expect to travel into low Earth orbit by 2020, while 3 percent specified plans to visit the International Space Station or Mars. The survey aimed to gauge consumer expectations about how travel will evolve by 2020.
Findings also showed strong ongoing interest in booking travel: 80 percent of Americans said they would book travel in 2020. More than half expected to make reservations via computer, and 22 percent anticipated using a smartphone. Interestingly, one in ten respondents predicted they would book travel using technology that does not yet exist.
“Technology is the through line in the evolution of travel,” said Daniel Farrar, CEO of Switchfly. “Our trend report shows consumers recognize that, with younger generations like Millennials and Generation X — who are more immersed in tech-oriented lifestyles — naturally leading the way. Right now, mobile is primarily used for research and inspiration, but the ability to plan and book a trip while on the go is streamlining the entire travel experience. As mobile booking grows over the next five years, travel brands will have a major opportunity to re-engage customers throughout the travel lifecycle.”
Regarding where consumers expect to travel by 2020, 51 percent expressed plans to travel domestically and 38 percent expected to travel internationally. That anticipated rise in international travel represents a significant increase from recent figures. For context, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries reported that approximately 5.9 million Americans — about 2 percent of the population — traveled internationally in May 2014.
These responses reflect a broader confidence in both traditional and emerging travel channels: consumers foresee continued use of established booking platforms alongside new technologies that could reshape how trips are planned and experienced. Whether visiting nearby domestic destinations, exploring foreign countries, or—even farther out—taking a trip into space, travelers are signaling a willingness to embrace change and innovation in the decade ahead.