What
According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, 81% plan to travel in the next six months, an increase of 16 percentage points since mid-January and the highest level since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Coupled with a surge in travel plans for the upcoming six months, the percentage of travelers who say that the coronavirus is greatly impacting their decision to travel during this time period has dropped to 40%, the lowest level since last March.
Why It Matters
This optimism among travelers coincides with the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, with two-thirds saying the vaccine will impact their travel plans. More than one-third of travelers do not plan to travel until they are vaccinated, and 20% of travelers do not plan to travel until a majority of Americans have received the vaccine. Clearly, the most important development for the travel industry is the rollout of an effective vaccine, so it might be a good time for travel advisors to reach out to clients and gauge their interest in making future plans.
Fast Facts
- The survey, supported by Miles Partnership, was fielded Feb. 3, 2021, using a national sample randomly drawn from a consumer panel of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and over. Quotas were used to match Census targets for age, gender and region to make the survey representative of the U.S. population.
What They Are Saying
“The arrival of multiple coronavirus vaccines has reignited travel planning in the U.S.,” said Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International. “The travel industry recovery appears poised to track in synch with the success of the mass vaccination program now underway across America.”
The Details
Longwoods International
www.longwoods-intl.com
