Update on Coronavirus’ Impact on American Travel—Week of April 27th
As American travelers prioritize staying safe from infection over the coming six months, they most want businesses like restaurants, malls, theme parks and sports venues to provide hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, as well as clearly explain their cleaning/sanitizing procedures.
IMPORTANT: These data and findings are brought to you from our independent research, which is not sponsored, conducted or influenced by any advertising or marketing agency.
Key Findings to Know
- American Travelers are Gradually Feeling Safer: Personal concern about contracting the virus, the perceived safety of large events like professional sports games and live performances, and the avoidance of travel until the coronavirus situation is over have all improved
- Some Effects Are Lessening: The percent cancelling a trip because of the coronavirus is at a 4-week low; meanwhile postponements are at a 4-week high. Agreement about staycationing is at a 3-week low, while taking more road trips this year to avoid air travel and avoiding travel outside the United States are both at a 6-week lows. The percent who say they will change the types of travel destinations they choose to visit is back down to 30.7%, although over half continue to say they will avoid crowded destinations when they travel again
- Now Is Still Not the Time for Travel: Americans continue to largely associate fear and uncertainty with travel right now. This week 63.5% agree they don’t want visitors coming to their community right now, although the strength of their agreement with this sentiment has lessened
- Desired Protocols for Future Travel: Americans look likely to prioritize staying safe from infection, (even over making money and their emotional well-being) and thus want to see businesses provide hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and well-explained cleaning procedures. However, in what becomes common business practices, Boomers want new policies like health screenings more than younger travelers
- Downloadable report available here
American travelers continue to gradually feel safer than they did one month ago. Personal concern about contracting the virus is at a 6-week low (6.7/10.0), with the biggest change among older travelers. The perceived safety of large events like professional sports games and live performances remains low but continues to improve. Although nearly half do not believe the coronavirus sitation will not be resolved by summer, there is continued decline in the number of Americans saying they will avoid all travel until the coronavirus situation is over (5-week low).
Some Effects of the coronavirus on American travel are lessening. The percent cancelling a trip because of the coronavirus is at a 4-week low (63.7%), meanwhile postponements are at a 4-week high (51.9%). Of those that postponed a trip, 32.8% have at least tentatively picked a rescheduled date. Excitement levels to take a getaway in the next month are depressed but at a 5-week high (4.7/10.0). Agreement about staycationing is at a 3-week low (49.3%), while taking more road trips this year to avoid air travel (37.6%) and avoiding travel outside the United States (77.8%) are both at 6-week lows. Younger travelers in particular are feeling more optimistic about international travel than they were one week ago. Avoidance of conferences and conventions is also at a 6-week low (72.6%). The percent who say they will change the types of travel destinations they choose to visit is back down to 30.7% from a high of 39.3% on April 10th, although over half of American travelers continue to say they will avoid crowded destinations when they travel again.
Nevertheless, the present is still not the time for travel. While there are more positive emotions than 5 weeks ago, Americans largely associate fear and uncertainty with travel right now. This week, 63.5% agree they don’t want visitors coming to their community right now, although the strength of their agreement with this sentiment has lessened (29.0% “strongly agree” down from 35.1% one week prior).
Looking at their lifestyle priorities over the next six months, Americans are most in sync on staying safe from infection (47.8%)–even more so than on making money (27.2%) or their emotional well-being (30.4%). Thus, when asked about the operational practices they want to see used at restaurants and commercial locations like malls and sports venues, Americans appear in most agreement about hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and well-explained cleaning procedures.
However, in what becomes common business practices, Boomers want new policies like health screenings more than younger travelers.
A presentation file summarizing these key findings is available for you to download.
