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Trust is having a hard time at the moment. Aussies distrust social media and even Qantas has slipped from its pedestal as the most trusted brand in Australia – but in the face of all that, travel agents are more trusted than ever.

This year, 79% of Australians say they view agents as “a trusted source of travel and safety advice”.

The finding emerges from SureSave’s 2018 Travel Insurance Index, the company’s seventh consecutive annual independent research project.  The level of trust is 5% above last year’s level – and caps a staggering 22% increase since SureSave’s research began in 2012, when only 57% of respondents viewed agents in this manner.

“Each year in Australia, we are continuing to see an increased number of travellers turning to agents,” Matt Endycott, head of agency sales at SureSave, commented.http://mekongtourismforum.org/index.php/2018/05/09/mtf-2018-web-banners/

“Travellers place a high importance on agents’ specialised knowledge in order to book travel plans, organise complex itineraries and receive information on travel insurance.

“Our research continues to uncover insights into Australian travellers’ perceptions of agents and sheds light on their travel habits.  We are seeing a considerable jump in the general public’s positive perception of agents.  Overall, travellers really want to maximise the expertise provided by agents.”

Among the survey’s findings:

  • 27% of Australians sourced their travel insurance policy for their most recent international leisure trip from a travel agency (either in person, via email, online or over the phone), making it the most popular option.
  • 41% of Australians used a travel agent to purchase their last overseas leisure trip.  21% of respondents cite the main reason for booking travel through an agent as, ‘it’s convenient to book everything through a travel agent’.
  • A further 20% state that “it’s easier to book through a travel agent when booking complex itineraries”.

The SureSave Travel Insurance Index is an annual, independently commissioned piece of research involving 1000 respondents in Australia.

Edited by Peter Needham