Global travelers feel comfortable visiting Switzerland in the near future

Germany, Canada, and New Zealand are most favorably impacted, while the United States, Brazil, and India are seen unfavorably. Based on nations’ handling of health crises, most travelers are more comfortable traveling domestically as opposed to internationally over the next five years.

The author(s)
  • Uri Farkas Account Manager
Get in touch

New York, August 25, 2020 – Necessary safety measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have inevitably disrupted tourism flows and tampered with our ability to travel freely; and while these precautionary hurdles have not weakened our resolve to go on a vacation getaway, they instead appear to have made us re-think the distance we are willing to travel for a break in our daily routines.

The Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI) 2020, a survey of 20,000 global citizens in 20 different nations, reveals that when pondering travel in the next five years, a vast majority feels most comfortable traveling domestically rather than internationally - given how various nations around the world respond to health crises. The only exception, are those from Brazil, who are equally split on their comfort level regarding domestic and international travel:

Comfort Traveling

In the next five years domestic travel might become more prevalent, and nations may have to temporarily adjust their tourism strategies, offerings, and price points to be more attuned with, and suited to, the needs and interests of their respective citizens.

Though fewer in number, some global citizens still feel comfortable exploring the world in the next five years - signaling that international travel will not come to a complete standstill. Nonetheless, travel plans and flow patterns will be directly affected by how nations respond to health crises, and how comfortable these measures make travelers feel. The top five nations which global citizens would feel most comfortable visiting in the next five years, based on how they respond to health crises, are:

Top 5 comfortable visiting

The top five nations which global travelers would feel most comfortable traveling to in the near future are those which have made significant strides to contain the propagation of the COVID-19 pandemic within their own borders. Consequently, it is unsurprising that the nations with the highest levels of net favorability, based on how they respond to healthcare crises, are:

Top Net Positive

The handling of health crises by some countries has led to significant negative favorability impacts. The following markets have the greatest “net negative” favorability in terms of their health crises management:

Top Net Negative

The United States ranks last out of the 50 measured nations in net favorability for its handling of healthcare crises. This particular instance helps further illustrate that the reputational losses incurred by poor perception in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic may have a greater toll on near-future tourism flows. Not only does it appear that travel in the next few years will mostly occur within nations’ borders - but while those willing to go beyond their own national boundaries are likely to travel to countries close in geographical proximity, they are even more likely to travel to nations which appear to have made significant strides to contain the proliferation of the pandemic – highlighted as follows by the top international destinations for each of the 20 measured NBI nations:

Destinations


Research Roundup

The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry is still largely unknown. New NBI 2020 results expectedly demonstrate that the ways in which countries handle health crises impacts favorability towards those nations. Those which have made significant progress to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are seen more favorably. Nations with net gains in favorability have a unique opportunity to attract international travelers in a time when most are cautious about venturing beyond their own nation’s borders; while those with net losses in favorability, must work actively to regain trust.

These important findings confirm that good governance – especially when it also produces benefits outside a nation’s borders – is the key to a powerful and positive international reputation. This, in turn, tends to attract more trade, tourism, foreign investment and talent. In today’s world of global challenges, doing good and doing well are inseparable,” added Simon Anholt.

NBI 2020

These results, along with NBI 2020 ratings, will provide critical insight to nations working to manage their brands and restore their business and tourism sectors quickly after the pandemic. Having a deep understanding of current perceptions, in the global context and in these turbulent times, can help guide future communications and marketing efforts for greater likelihood of success.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Jason McGrath
Senior Vice President, US 
Corporate Reputation
[email protected]


Uri Farkas
Account Manager, US 
Corporate Reputation
[email protected]
 

About the Study

The Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI), collects over 20,000 interviews online in 20 panel countries with adults aged 18 or over each year. Data are weighted to reflect key demographic characteristics including age, gender, and education of the online population in that country each year. Additionally, race/ethnicity has been used for sample balancing in the U.S., UK, South Africa, India, and Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted from July through August.

The total nations measured in 2020 are as follows, listed by region:

North America: Canada, U.S.

Europe:Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Wales

Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand

Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru

Middle East: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

Africa: Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
 

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com
 

About Simon Anholt

Simon Anholt designed and launched the Nation Brands Index in 2005. Since 1998, he has advised the presidents, prime ministers and governments of 56 countries, helping them to engage more imaginatively and effectively with the international community. He is recognized as the world’s leading authority on national image. Professor Anholt also publishes the Good Country Index, a survey that ranks countries on their contribution to humanity and the planet, and is Founder-Editor Emeritus of the Journal of Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. He was previously Vice-Chair of the UK Foreign Office Public Diplomacy Board. Anholt’s TED talk launching the Good Country Index has received 6 million views, and his more recent one launching the Global Vote, over a million. He has written five books about countries, cultures and globalization and is an honorary Professor of Political Science at the University of East Anglia. His latest book, The Good Country Equation, will be published in August 2020.

The author(s)
  • Uri Farkas Account Manager

More insights about Reisen, Tourismus, Transport

Gesellschaft