Bell Tours & Travel Media Center

Travelers taking shorter, more frequent vacations

United States and Canada top destinations

For Immediate Release
August 23, 2000

Vancouver - People are taking more vacations per year, for shorter periods of time, and the U.S. and Canada are their preferred destinations, according to a survey released today by Western Canada's largest tour guide service.

"There's a new trend in travel," says George Bell, president of Bell Tours & Travel in South Surrey. "Of the one hundred twenty-five travelers surveyed, 42 per cent say they usually get just one vacation per year, with the average length between one to two weeks. To counteract their busy schedules, 54 per cent of the respondents say they make up for only one vacation by taking between two to four "long weekend" holidays throughout the year."

"Travelers want to pack as much into their vacations as they can," says Mr. Bell. "They are more active; 70 per cent say they participate in sports while away. Shopping is still high on travelers' priorities (70 per cent). We were surprised to find that 59 per cent of the respondents would like to learn something new while they holiday … such as participating in painting or cooking classes, or learning a new language."

Here is a partial list of the survey results:

Favorite Travel Destination:
United States	61 per cent
Canada	56 per cent
Mexico	25 per cent
Mode of Transportation:
Fly	76 per cent
Self-drive	60 per cent
Favorite Vacation Activities
*Dining Out	85 per cent
Shopping	70 per cent
Enjoying the sun, sand and surf	69 per cent
Taking day tours of the area	69 per cent
Enjoying regional cuisine	69 per cent
Seeing live entertainment, concerts or shows	66 per cent
Sightseeing	64 per cent
Visiting art galleries, museums, or archaeological sites	62 per cent
Visiting friends and family	52 per cent
Participating in sports is high on the agenda	70 per cent
Activities Include:
Walking	63 per cent
Swimming	58 per cent
Hiking	40 per cent
Golf, cycling, boating	36 per cent each
Vacation Spending
Spend $1,000 and under per person, per vacation	25 per cent
Spend between $1,000 and $2,000 per person, per vacation	29 per cent

The types of holiday packages travel agents put together must meet a customer's needs and the trends developing. Bell Tours & Travel has expanded the choices and made it easier for travelers to experience variety in their vacations.

Here are a few options for travelers:

Sourdough Rendezvous in the Yukon, February 22 to 25, 2001

A sure cure for cabin fever. The Northern Lights are dramatic and the competition is wild and wacky. Drive a dog sled. Get a close-up view of the North Star.

16th Annual Christmas in Victoria

One of Bell's most popular tours. Celebrate Christmas at the Harbour Towers Hotel. Includes visit to Circus Magicus at the Royal BC Museum and IMAX presentation, Çirque du Soleil's film, Journey of Man.

Bell Tours & Travel is Western Canada's largest tour guide service. A specialist in designing small group and private tour programs for Canada, the United States, South Pacific and Southeast Asia, their national tour guide services are available in fourteen languages. Bell Tours & Travel is the Canadian representative for euroAdventures of Galicia, Spain, featuring Celtic Wine Tours.

Call any travel agent to request a copy of Bell Tours & Travel's most recent brochure, or telephone 604-535-2587. Long distance, call toll free, 1-800-665-8488.

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Complete Survey Results available. Please Contact: Margo Bates Publicity Inc., Vancouver, BC Telephone: 604-536-9501, or e-mail: mbpr@istar.ca

*In many cases, survey respondents gave more than one answer to the question. The overall percentages will not, therefore, total one hundred.