According to the 2013 ASTA Agency Profile, the percentage of sales related to international travel continues to increase. ASTA agencies reported that 60 percent of sales is derived from international travel. This represents a 49 percent increase in international sales compared to 2004, when international travel represented 40 percent of sales for ASTA agencies. The survey also found that domestic travel bookings are decreasing.
“As travel distribution has changed, many travel agencies have found that consumers and business clients tend to use online resources for simpler domestic travel,” said ASTA CEO Zane Kerby. “The complexity of international travel means the expertise of a travel agent is essential for a successful overseas business trip and for the experiential leisure trips that many consumers desire.”
The trend toward international travel sales is complemented by the growth of tour sales, which are more likely to be international. The profile found that tour/group sales as a percentage share represents 31 percent of total sales on average. The percentage for leisure agencies only is even larger, at 35 percent. www.asta.org
