The Expedia 2013 “Flip Flop Report” examined beachgoer behavior worldwide and asked consumers for their opinions on a wide range of beach-related questions, including their comfort with nudity, fear of sharks and tolerance of bathing suits such as the “Speedo.”
Nearly half of all respondents worldwide (46%) took a beach vacation in the past twelve months, and two thirds (64%) indicate that they are either “very or somewhat likely” to take a beach vacation in the next year. Among those who have taken a beach vacation or are likely to take a beach vacation in the next 12 months, the beach, unsurprisingly, remains the top vacation type, outranking historical/cultural sightseeing, visits with friends/family, theme parks, skiing, adventure sports, spectator events and casino/gambling trips.
“We study the beach behavior across continents because it makes us smarter – if we know up front that American beachgoers love last-minute package deals to Mexico, we can deliver the best pricing, programs and offers at the top hotels to match,” said John Morrey, vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. “It’s also frankly a lot of fun to dig into this data and we promise not to make any judgments.”
When it comes to the wearing of the Speedo, though, the swimwear style is globally approved – sorry America. Overall, 65% of beachgoers worldwide reported finding bathing suits such as the Speedo to be “acceptable.”
L.A. Travel Mom 