The current government shutdown—now on its 25th day—is having a serious impact on leisure travel. According to a “Government Shutdown and Travel Survey” conducted by MMGY Global, 16 percent of U.S. travelers have already cancelled a vacation due to concerns about the shutdown.
Among those travelers who still plan to take a vacation during the next six months, 55 percent indicate that they will do so without hesitation, and 32 percent are planning to keep their vacation plans while monitoring the shutdown situation. However, 14 percent of the travelers are unsure about keeping their plans or are considering cancelling their vacation plans due to the shutdown.
The biggest concerns among travelers who are considering cancelling their vacation plans are park/monument closings, delays in receiving their tax refund, and safety. These break down to: 70 percent of travelers are considering to cancel vacation plans due to the national parks, monuments, and other government-owned attractions being closed; 67 percent are considering cancelling because they’re not sure what will be open at the destination; 65 percent because of the potential delay in receiving tax refunds; 65 percent of travelers have safety concerns over fewer government employees in safety/security positions; 61 percent are considering cancellations due to longer airport security lines due to fewer TSA workers on hand; and 19 percent because they’re a government worker and their paycheck has been impacted.
Thirty-seven percent of U.S. travelers consider themselves Democrats and 31 percent Republicans, while 32 percent consider themselves to either be Independent or have no party affiliation. However according to MMGY’s study, more Republicans (64 percent) are planning to take their upcoming vacation with no hesitation than Democrats (45 percent).
The results of this survey were conducted Jan. 10-11, 2019 from 400 U.S. travelers, defined as residents who are 18 or older and have plans to take at least one vacation during the next six months.
For more information, visit mmgy.com/services/research-data. And, for more information on the government shutdown, check out: “Government Shutdown Impact on Travel.”
