MMGY Global’s latest survey of U.S. adults — conducted Dec. 3-5 — found that 39% of vaccinated adults say the Omicron variant has no impact on their likelihood to travel in the next three months, while the majority (71%) of those who are unvaccinated say this news does not impact their likelihood to travel.
The survey asked respondents how they would behave given different outcomes of the variant.
Forty-three percent say they would be significantly less likely to travel if scientists determine Omicron is more likely to result in hospitalizations. Thirty-four percent say they would be significantly less likely to travel if scientists determine Omicron is more resistant to current vaccines.
Thirty-two percent say they would be significantly less likely to travel if scientists determine Omicron is more easily transmitted.
Clayton Reid, CEO of MMGY Global, does not believe that the variant will have a significant lasting effect.
"As we have seen with the Delta variant, traveler mentality can be affected by a perpetuated media and social narrative, but that effect can be fleeting and somewhat unreliable,” Reid said. “While we see an expected apprehension among travelers as they first learn of Omicron, we also expect this to be replaced quickly with a bullish sentiment toward 2022 travel."
While we see an expected apprehension among travelers as they first learn of Omicron, we also expect this to be replaced quickly with a bullish sentiment toward 2022 travel.
The survey also asked travelers about their approval of health and safety measures that could prevent the spread of Omicron cases, and coronavirus in general, throughout the U.S.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents support President Biden's decision to increase testing requirements for inbound international travelers to the U.S, while 64% believe airlines should require all passengers to be fully vaccinated in order to fly domestically, and 67% believe this requirement should be in place for international travelers.
