The popularity of 'Travel Tuesday' increases, as more people choose travel over shopping.

First there was Black Friday — then Cyber Monday.

Consumers who are eager for deals can now extend their shopping spree by one day during "Travel Tuesday," which offers discounts on trips instead of electronics.

According to a report published by McKinsey & Company on Thursday, the interest in "Travel Tuesday" increased by more than 500% from 2021 to 2023.

According to McKinsey, searches are highest among American and Canadian consumers, but interest is also on the rise in Australia, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Spain.

The popularity of "Travel Tuesday" increased in 2022 and 2023, with the majority of searches occurring in North America, Western Europe, and Australia, according to Google Trends.

McKinsey's report suggests that European travel companies should anticipate the potential growth of Travel Tuesday in their region.

In Asia, Travel Tuesday hasn't gained popularity yet, according to a report, possibly due to the widespread popularity of China's "Singles' Day" sales event, which takes place annually on November 11.

Despite the fact that Asian companies are not allowed to participate in the sale, they are still able to reach global clients.

In 2023, Bawah Reserve, an eco-resort in Indonesia's Riau Islands, launched its first "Travel Tuesday" promotion, directed by Kristen Jennings, the company's director of sales and marketing.

""Our offer of an upgrade, discount, or free flight generated good sales," she stated."

Flights, hotels and cruises

Last year, on November 28, 2023, American travelers saw a surge in hotel, airline, and cruise bookings, as revealed in McKinsey's report titled "Travel Tuesday is Real — and Growing."

According to the report, airline bookings increased by more than 60% and cruises by more than 50% during the two-week period before and after the specified day.

Although bookings made the day prior, which was Cyber Monday, slightly eclipsed hotel bookings, which jumped 28%, the report showed. Searches for "Cyber Monday" are far greater than "Travel Tuesday," but interest in the former is declining, it showed.

Ryan Mann, a partner in McKinsey's Travel, Logistics and Infrastructure practice and one of the authors of the report, stated that travel bookings made on Travel Tuesday have exceeded those made on Cyber Monday.

Mann warns that Travel Tuesday may not have the same impact on the travel industry as Black Friday has on retail.

On both dates, consumers are searching for the best deals, he stated. However, unlike some of the impulsive purchases made on Black Friday, travel bookings necessitate more planning.

Discounts on airfares, cruises, and tour packages are available for those who are ready to book. Many hotels offer 20-30% off best available rates. Travelers can check out "Travel Tuesday" deals from 2023 to get an idea of what to expect this year.

A slice of year-end spending

Finding a good deal is a top priority for travelers facing rising travel costs and inflationary pressures.

Travelers can benefit from discounts on a designated travel day, which can also help companies increase revenue during a typically slow booking period, according to McKinsey. The report suggests that late November/early December is not the ideal time for winter bookings and is too early for summer ones.

Rewritten sentence: Instead of focusing solely on physical gifts for year-end holiday spending, consider alternative ways to show appreciation and love.

According to a 2024 survey by WalletHub, over half of Americans (58%) prefer to spend their money on travel rather than shopping.

According to a 2024 Amex Trendex global survey of over 13,000 adults earning at least $50,000 annually, approximately one in three respondents planned to gift an "experience" to a significant other or their children. The percentage of respondents who preferred to give an experience or trip over a material gift was even higher for friends, with nearly 70% saying so.

According to the Amex survey published in September, the top experiences were for entertainment (59%) and travel (54%).