Travel companies risk losing customers due to lack of payment options

The finding is part of an online survey of 7,400 consumers by YouGov and ACI Worldwide, which also shows that lack of transparent pricing is another large concern for travellers, with 66% respondents stating that there are too many hidden fees when booking trips and tickets online, resulting in final prices that are different to the ones advertised.

Other key findings:

Travel and booking behavior

• 37% of respondents globally travel 1-2 times a year while 22% do so 3-5 times a year;

• 65% of travellers globally spend between USD 320 – 3,800 on leisure travel annually, with 33% spending more than USD 1,300 per year;

• 74% prefer to book their travel via a digital device (computer, laptop or mobile phone) and on average, only 10% prefer to book in person;

• 30% of travellers prefer to book via travel comparison channels.

Payments preferences

• 30% of travellers want a range of payment options available and 36% feel frustrated if they ca not pay via their preferred method;

• credit and debit cards are the most popular means to pay for trips globally (36% and 29%);

• in Germany, 33% of consumers prefer to pay via direct bank transfer, while in China 78% use Alipay as their preferred payment method.

Transparency and data security

• 66% of respondents find a lack of transparent pricing annoying;

• 32% of respondents are concerned about what travel companies do with their personal data and 34% believe that operators should be more transparent.

Experience of fraud

• 33% of travellers globally have experienced fraud either while booking a holiday or while travelling;

• the number of UK travellers having experienced fraud is 18%, 30% for Germans, 36% for Britons, 35% for French, 61% for Chinese travellers.

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