Aggressor Adventures announces the results of its latest Consumer Travel Index, which tracks consumer sentiments on a bi-monthly basis. Amid the holiday season, Aggressor’s Index puts a spotlight on gift-giving, as well as scuba diving.
No Coal, Just Gifts, in the Travel Industry’s Stocking
With supply chain issues and shipping delays disrupting holiday shopping, demand for experiential gifts is growing in popularity. As such, optimism has returned to the tourism sector. The first Aggressor Index question asks respondents if they plan to gift a loved-one an experience-based gift this holiday season – more than 40 percent of respondents said yes. Even more encouraging, more than 45 percent of respondents are planning to use their holiday bonuses on travel.
“Even before the pandemic, at Aggressor Adventures we’ve seen an increase in gifting travel around the holiday season. People are valuing quality time together and going on adventures rather than exchanging goods. Experiential gifts offer memories that will last a lifetime, which you can’t put a price on,” says Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Adventures.
Diving Through the Pandemic
A recent Harris poll showed 69 percent of Americans have gained a renewed appreciation for the outdoors during the pandemic. At a time when people needed an outlet for social connection and physical activity, the outdoors was there to provide countless mental and physical health benefits. As such, the second Aggressor Index question asks scuba diving enthusiasts if the pandemic has reminded them how much they enjoy diving. Results show more than half of divers have a newfound appreciation for the hobby they love. Furthermore, more than 22 percent of divers have used the sport to escape pandemic-related stress.
“Throughout this pandemic, outdoor recreation has played an integral part of American life. The diving community really rallied around the sport and took to the water to stay safe, de-stress and exercise,” shares Brown. “As we look forward, it’s clear the outdoors will be an important part of America’s economic future. For divers like our customers, this means more time spent underwater as evidenced by the 136 percent increase in our 2022 liveaboard scuba diving trips over last year.”
