According to the sixth annual Global Travel Forecast, published today by CWT and GBTA, prices in the global travel industry are likely to slow in 2020 – with flights rising a modest 1.2%, hotels rising only 1.3%, and rental car rates up 1% (in US$ terms), despite posting sharp rises this year.

While the global economy is doing well overall – and expected to grow a solid 3.6% in 2020 – a raft of uncertainties are set to put a damper on pricing.

“The risks and ambiguity have increased over the past few months – not least the threat of escalating trade wars, the impact of Brexit, possible oil supply shocks, and the growing likelihood of recession,” said Kurt Ekert, CWT’s president and CEO.

Airfares in Hong Kong are projected to rise 0.4% (in local currency terms; 0.5% in US$ terms), lower than the Asia-Pacific and global averages.

“Cathay Pacific delivered a strong performance last year, after its transformation strategy launched in 2017 led to a series of productivity improvements and cost-savings,” said Elis Kodra, director, CWT Solutions Group Asia-Pacific.

“However, with fierce competition from foreign carriers, we anticipate that the growth in airfares will continue to moderate for the remainder of 2019 and into 2020. Furthermore, with Cathay Pacific’s acquisition of HK Express in July, we see low cost-carriers potentially entering a new era of growth in the market, which will also put downward pressure on average ticket prices.”

Meanwhile, hotel rates in Hong Kong are expected to climb 3% (3.1% in US$ terms) – but if the recent public unrest in the city has a significant mid-long term impact on occupancy rates, that could push prices lower.

“Technological advancements and an increasingly volatile economic and political landscape across the globe have changed the way today’s travel buyers need to do their jobs,” said Scott Solombrino, GBTA COO and executive director. “This annual forecast provides insights into the key drivers forcing these shifting priorities and gives a road map for travel buyers looking to plan their 2020 travel programmes.”

Asia-Pacific
Air: 1.3% Hotel: 1.3% Ground: 0.5%

Asia’s expansion has slowed down due to worsening US-China relations, tighter global financial conditions, and natural disasters. But the region remains the most dynamic, with steady GDP growth, benign inflation, and a sense of optimism.

• Air: In Asia-Pacific, the shutdown of India-based Jet Airways’ operations in April created a gap in the market for some key routes, and the reduced competition has meant higher airfares – but with other airlines adding capacity to fill the vacuum, fares have begun to normalise.
• Hotel: Asia’s hospitality industry is booming with hotel investment volumes predicted to grow 15% year-on-year. Japan will host the Rugby World Cup later this year, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, which will boost visitor numbers to the region. The Japanese hotel market is seeing a sharp increase in supply to accommodate the anticipated surge in visitors to the country during these events.
• Ground: In China, steady demand and increased competition will hurt car suppliers. Across Asia-Pacific, ride-sharing is booming, with many companies allowing their employees to use these services for business travel. Providers like Didi Chuxing, Grab, Go-Jek and Ola are pursuing aggressive expansion plans, while also taking steps to put more stringent safety measures in place.

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Eastern Europe: Western Europe: Middle East & Africa
Air: -0.2% Air: 0.5% Air: 2.2%
Hotel: 0.7% Hotel: 0.7% Hotel: 2.5%
Ground: 1.5% Ground: 0.5% Ground: 0.5%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects steady growth, ranging from 0.3% in the Middle East to 1.6% in Europe, and 3.6% in Africa. Across Europe, labor unrest, climate change protests, global trade wars, rising oil prices and regional terrorism all have the potential to cause a slowdown.

• Air: Istanbul’s new airport, one of the largest in the region, will likely change flows between Europe and Asia, providing an alternative stopover point for flights to China and Eastern Asia.

• Hotel: Denmark and Egypt are both countries to watch, with hotel prices in Denmark expected to fall next year. On the other hand, Egypt’s rates are on the up – projected to rise by 4.7% – as its economy settles down after a period of unrest.

• Ground: Eastern Europe’s franchise model for rental car businesses will see slightly higher growth of 1.5%, due to supply and demand in the region. Rail prices still vary greatly across EMEA due to inconsistent regulation.

Latin America
Air: -1.6% Hotel: -0.4% Ground: 1%
Economic activity in Latin America continues to grow – albeit slower than anticipated – and is expected to rise 2.5% in 2020. A volatile political and economic situation in some of the largest economies like Argentina, Mexico and Brazil will hurt prospects.

• Air: Given the long distances, a growing middle class, and low market penetration of air travel, there are many opportunities, and airlines are making the best of them. Since 2017, several new carriers have entered the market and low-cost carriers have gained significant share in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
• Hotel: Following a steady decline in new hotels from a 2015-2016 peak, things may be picking up, with Mexico leading the way. More than 10 new corporate chain hotels opened in the region in the first quarter of 2019 with growth set to continue throughout 2020. Properties in Mexico and across Latin America are likely to continue to cut prices.
• Ground: A slight increase for rental cars is driven by growing demand in Brazil, the region’s biggest economy. Rental car companies report a cultural shift towards sharing cars rather than owning them, and growth in tourism is also boosting the industry.

North America
Air: 2.3% Hotel: 2.3% Ground: 1%

While the US economy is thriving, there is growing uncertainty, due to tariffs and trade wars. US GDP growth is set to slow to 2.1% in 2019, and slow further in 2020 and 2021, to 2% and 1.8%, respectively.

• Air: Flight prices are expected to rise, reflecting the strong economies of the US and Canada. Most airlines are looking to ancillary fees as a way to stay competitive, so costs of services like Wi-Fi and lounge access may be up for negotiation for corporate travellers.
• Hotel: The hotel industry has seen slow, but steady growth. A gradual slowing will help rates return to normal, correcting the high prices seen in some of the major cities. Technology-focused areas – like San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Vancouver – are still seeing growth. However, demand in these cities has been high for so long that prices have risen too far – and business travellers are staying further out in response.
• Ground: Due to the nature of long-term contracts, we are unlikely to see any upward trends in pricing until 2021 or 2022. Traveller preferences are dictating a change in car preferences, shifting away from traditional sedans in favour of more versatile SUVs and trucks.

For the full report, download the 2020 Global Travel Forecast here.