Now that vaccines have been rolled out and travel restrictions are being lifted, many Americans are eager to resume traveling. After conducting a survey on travel sentiment in January of this year, IPX 1031 recently surveyed 1,497 Americans (ages 18-76; average age 38 years old) six months later to see how their feelings towards traveling have changed.
According to the survey, 48 percent of those who participated have not traveled in over a year, and 57 percent have unused paid time off from their employer.
But, Americans are ready to start traveling. The results show that 85 percent of respondents are optimistic about traveling in 2021, which is up from 48 percent in January 2021.
And 75 percent plan to travel in 2021, also up from January 2021, when just 58 percent planned to travel this year.
Among that 75 percent who plan to vacation this year, 71 percent plan to travel within the U.S., and 55 percent have already booked their trips. Most said they’ll be traveling for an average of four days, and the average number of trips planned for this year is 2.5.
According to the respondents, more than one-third (36 percent) plan to take a trip this summer, while 23 percent are planning for the fall, and 16 percent for the winter season.
From the 75 percent who plan to vacation this year, 44 percent plan to spend more money than they normally would—44 percent saying they plan to pay with credit. And 59 percent of respondents have budgeted $2,000 or more for a trip this year.
When it comes to how they’re traveling, 71 percent of respondents feel safe flying right now, which is also up from 48 percent in January 2021.
According to the respondents, 38 percent say they prefer to stay in a hotel when vacationing this year, and 16 percent prefer a short-term rental such as an Airbnb or VRBO, and 14 percent are opting for a vacation home or timeshare. In turn, hotels have seen an increase in customers as travel restrictions ease throughout the country.
However, the vaccines have played a part in how and when Americans travel. According to the survey, 75 percent of those who responded say they are either already vaccinated or plan to travel after they receive the vaccine. And 38 percent feel it is not safe for people to travel until they are vaccinated.
As for the respondents who said they don’t yet feel safe traveling—9 percent, which is down from 11 percent in January—the top reason, at 64 percent, was that they don’t feel safe due to the pandemic; 46 percent said they don’t have a budget for travel now; 27 percent listed the travel and flying restrictions; 21 percent claimed the restrictions on dining and entertainment; and 13 percent said they can’t take time off work.
For more information, visit ipx1031.com/vacation-post-covid.
Check out the Future of Travel Survey, Preferred Hospitality conducted in 2020. And, check out, “Planning Travel in the COVID-19 Era.”
