The Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015 was commissioned by Visa to Millward Brown. The study was conducted with 13,603 travellers, aged 18 years and above across 25 countries in January and February 2015.

The travel and tourism industry continues to play a significant part to global economies. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), travel and tourism generated US$7.6 billion in 2014 - 10 percent of global GDP.

This is expected to grow by 3.7 percent in 2015. There were almost 1.14 billion international tourists arrivals in 2014 and with visitor spending matching that growth, this industry remains an exciting one with significant opportunities for the world’s largest industries.

Considering the scale of the industry, it is vital to analyze and understand the travel behavior and tourism spending patterns of these global travellers to help unlock the potential this industry presents to developed and emerging economies alike.

Tourism provides a gateway to economic progress by helping to grow revenue, promote job creation, and accelerate infrastructure development. And with increased acceptance of reliable and secure electronic payments, every traveler who uses a card to pay or buy goods and services is exponentially contributing to growth.

The Visa Global Travel Intentions Study has been regularly updated and published since 2006, and this latest installment is showing that with greater options, leisure travel is touching a wider mass.

Regardless of economic or political highs and lows, leisure travellers are still optimistic about their future plans.

This latest 2015 global update is part of Visa’s continued commitment to helping industry players, including governments, in their pursuit of growth of the global travel and tourism industry.

Index:

1. SHIFTS AND CHANGES: Current and future macro trends in leisure travel
2. ASIA ON THE RISE: Asia’s appeal to travellers and a focus on the Chinese traveller
3. A NEW BREED OF TRAVELLER: Changing attitudes and behaviours of leisure travellers
4. THE SOLO TRAVELLER
5. TECH SAVVY TRAVELLER
6. PAYMENT CHOICES OF LEISURE TRAVELLERS

Read the full report here.