New Survey Reveals Entertainment is Driving Travel

19 hours ago 1

The EY organization today released its Media and Entertainment Poll (M&E) examining the perceptions, attitudes and intentions of consumers worldwide towards experiential entertainment activities such as cruises, theme parks, local entertainment, sporting events, live entertainment and casinos and resorts.

Conducted in April, 4,000 consumers were polled across the United States, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Key study findings related to travel include:

Entertainment is driving travel: with 44 percent of global consumers and 52 percent of Americans traveling specifically for entertainment.
Cruises see high spend and satisfaction: with 61 percent of cruise growers spending $1000+ USD and 86 percent reporting the experiences met or exceeded the expectations.
Upgrades are the norm: Half of consumers who bought cruises or theme park passes also paid for premium add-ons.
Young travelers want more:Gen Z and Millennials are prioritizing tech-enabled, wellness-driven, and gamified experiences — especially in cruise and casino settings.
Sustainable features: 69 percent of consumers are willing to pay extra for locally sourced food and contributions to local communities (67 percent). Younger generations are willing to pay a 26 percent premium for sustainable features though they are generally in the lowest socioeconomic group.

Javi Borges, EY Global and EY Americas Media & Entertainment (M&E) Sector Leader, said in a statement, “At a time of global economic and geopolitical upheaval, our research shows consumers’ desire for immersive, live entertainment experiences is as strong as ever – and potentially getting stronger.”

He added, “For providers offering these experiences, this robust demand presents major opportunities. But to reap the full benefits, they’ll need to understand consumers’ varying motivations and preferences – and align their efforts, accordingly, including making effective use of technology to meet rising expectations.”

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.