The latest version of marketing services firm MMGY Global’s ongoing Travel Intentions Pulse Survey — which began tracking American travel sentiment since mid-March — has found that 42% of Americans are “somewhat likely” to take a domestic leisure trip in the next six months. This marks the highest the figure has been since the survey’s inception.
Likelihood of taking other kinds of trips has increased, as well.
Three-quarters of Americans plan to travel by personal car in the next six months — which also is the highest it has been since the pandemic began. Two out of five travelers are willing to drive 300 miles or more each way for a leisure trip.
In terms of what will influence Americans to travel, 33% of respondents are receptive to great travel deals. However, containment of COVID-19 remains the No. 1 consideration that will have the biggest influence on future travel at 51%; last month’s survey marked this figure at 58%.
Respondents are also more likely to consider taking business trips. The number of travelers who said they would not take a business trip in the next six months declined from 35% to 25% in one month.
The Domestic Travel Safety Barometer, which measures traveler sentiment on a scale of 0 (extremely unsafe) to 100 (extremely safe), increased from a score of 45 to 49 from July to August. The Lodging Safety Barometer reached an all-time high score of 50 as confidence in staying at hotels and resorts has increased.
“We’re seeing this momentum from the summer spurred on by people venturing away from home for the first time in months,” said Chris Davidson, executive vice president of insights and strategy for MMGY Global. “Americans are figuring out what they feel comfortable with and are starting to feel safer traveling domestically, though international travel is still perceived by most to be unsafe.”
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