Travel agents are well and truly back in vogue, with new research revealing 76 per cent of Aussies view agents as ‘a trusted source of travel and safety advice’.
This figure represents a whopping 19 per cent increase since 2012 when only 57 per cent said they viewed agents in this manner.
The research comes from the 2019 SureSave Travel Insurence Index, conducted by SureSave.
Matt Endycott, head of agency sales at SureSave said it was encouraging to see travellers continue to place such a high importance on agents’ specialised knowledge.
“Each year, we continue to see a high number of travellers in Australia turning to agents for travel advice,” he said.
According to the research, 38 per cent of Aussies used a travel agent to book their last overseas leisure trip. 20 per cent said their main reason for booking with an agent was because it is easier to book complex itineraries through an agent. 17 per cent said it was a matter of convenience.
23 per cent also sourced their travel insurance policy through an agent, making it the second most popular option after the 26 per cent who book direct.
“Whilst there are still those people who turn to the internet for help and information, we are seeing that travel agents are highly regarded in the eyes of the general public and overall, travellers really want to maximise the expertise provided by agents,” Endycott said.
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