Travelers at a Major Metropolitan Airport about the Purpose of Their Trip
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the results of a survey that sampled a cross section of travelers at a major metropolitan airport about the purpose of their trip. The survey was carried out during four different months in 2002.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The table presents the findings of a survey conducted among travelers at a major metropolitan airport about the purpose of their trip during four months in 2002, namely March, June, September, and December.
A broad view of the data indicates that the primary reasons for traveling were business and holidays across the surveyed months. However, the share of individuals traveling for these purposes varied significantly over the year. Business trips peaked in March, while holidays saw their highest proportion in June. Interestingly, visits to family recorded their highest percentage in December, surpassing other months.
In March, business travel dominated the chart, with a substantial 73% of travelers flying for work-related reasons, whereas holidaymakers comprised just 18%. Visits to family members were relatively rare at 6%, and 3% of travelers reported traveling for other purposes. By June, however, holiday travel surged to 54%, making it the top reason for travel, while business trips dropped sharply to 29%. Family visits accounted for 13%, and the share of those traveling for other purposes was 4%.
September saw a reversal, with 53% of travelers flying for business, a significant rebound from June. In contrast, holiday travel declined to 31%, and family visits stood at 11%. Finally, in December, business travel further declined to 34%, almost matching the 35% traveling for holidays. Visits to family spiked to 26%, their highest throughout the year, while 5% of travelers reported other reasons.
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Sample Answer 2
The table illustrates the findings of a survey that captured insights from travelers at a major metropolitan airport about the purpose of their trip, conducted across four distinct months in 2002—March, June, September, and December.
From a broad perspective, it is evident that business and leisure were the primary drivers of travel throughout the year, but their prominence fluctuated considerably over the different months. Business travel reached its peak in March, while holiday-related journeys saw their highest percentage in June. Interestingly, December registered the highest proportion of people traveling to visit family.
During March, a significant proportion of travelers, nearly three-quarters, embarked on business trips, overshadowing other travel purposes such as holidays (below one-fifth) and family visits, which remained minimal. The trend shifted dramatically in June when holiday travel emerged as the dominant reason, comprising more than half of all trips, while business-related journeys declined to just under one-third. Family visits and other purposes contributed to the remaining share of travel in June.
A reversal was observed in September, with business trips surging once again, representing more than half of the total travel. Meanwhile, holiday-related travel dipped but still held a noteworthy portion. By December, travel patterns became more diversified, with a noticeable increase in family visits, which accounted for just over a quarter of the trips. Business and holiday travel were almost equally balanced during this period, while a small proportion of travelers cited other purposes for their journeys.
Sample Answer 3
The table presents the results of a survey conducted among travelers at a major metropolitan airport about the purpose of their trip across four different months in 2002—March, June, September, and December.
A general overview reveals that business and holiday travel were the primary motivations for most trips throughout the year, though their prevalence varied from month to month. Business travel was at its highest in March, while holiday travel dominated in June. The proportion of people traveling to visit family saw its greatest rise in December, making it a notable reason during that period.
In March, the overwhelming majority of travelers, more than two-thirds, flew for business purposes, leaving holiday trips and family visits at relatively low levels. By June, there was a clear shift as leisure travel surged, becoming the leading purpose, while business travel saw a steep decline. Family visits and other purposes accounted for a small share of journeys in June.
September marked another change, with business trips once again becoming the most frequent reason for travel, reversing the trend observed in June. Although holiday travel dropped, it still maintained a significant presence. In December, travel patterns appeared more evenly distributed, with nearly identical percentages of people traveling for business and holiday reasons. During this period, the number of travelers visiting family reached its peak for the year, while the proportion of trips for other purposes remained minimal but consistent.
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