US travellers plan more trips now than they did pre-pandemic
US travel insurer Seven Corners has released data demonstrating how travellers are changing the way they think about and plan their summer vacations in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic times
The company shared relevant data highlighting changes in the number and length of summer trips, travellers’ concerns about summer travel while coming out of a pandemic and preferences for traveling within or outside of the US. More than half of travellers are planning to take more trips this summer than they did pre-pandemic. Covid-19, however, continues to impact many of their decisions and concerns when it comes to travel.
Among the 58 per cent of respondents who are planning to take more trips this summer than in the summers prior to the pandemic, most are making a modification to the way they travelled in the past. For example, close to 16 per cent are taking trips in the summer instead of throughout the year, and close to 10 per cent are travelling more in the summer because of concerns that Covid-19 will return and restrict travel.
Approximately 10 per cent of summer travellers are focusing on micro-cations – defined as a trip of less than five nights – and another 10 per cent plan to travel more this summer because they are tired of being at home due to travel limitations in place the past two years. This supports data from Seven Corners' 2021 travel trends research conducted in January, which found that, based on policies sold by Seven Corners, micro-cations grew in popularity in 2021. The company saw a 74-per-cent increase in this type of vacation compared to 2019 and a 66 per cent increase compared to 2020.
Spending at same level as pre-pandemic
For Americans who are planning to travel this summer, many of them — nearly 46 per cent — plan to spend the same amount of money on travel as they typically did prior to the pandemic. Almost 39 per cent, however, plan to spend more on travel this summer. Of those planning to spend more, 26 per cent said it was because of the increase in the cost of travel. Only 16 per cent said they’ll spend more to treat themselves, while 11 per cent said it’s because they’ve saved money for travel and are ready to spend it.
When it comes to the cost of travel, 49 per cent of those planning to stay in the US and 14 per cent of those planning to go abroad said their biggest concern this summer was increasing travel prices. Additionally, some domestic travellers specifically highlighted rising gas or fuel prices. The rising cost of travel far outpaced domestic travellers’ other leading concerns: fear of contracting Covid-19 (20 per cent) and flight delays (13 per cent).
Close to half of respondents (49 per cent) are planning to remain in the US when they travel this summer. When asked if their choice of destination differs compared to before the pandemic, 31 per cent said there was no difference. However, of those who did report a change in destination, 21 per cent are planning to stay in the US because they are not comfortable traveling abroad.
On the other hand, 13 per cent of respondents whose destinations changed plan to travel internationally because they couldn’t during the pandemic. Of all respondents who plan to travel abroad, some of the leading concerns about going overseas were tied closely to Covid-19 and its various effects on travellers.
Following the rising cost of travel as the top concern for those planning to travel internationally, fear of getting stuck in another country if they test positive for Covid-19 (13 per cent) and difficulties keeping up with and following Covid-19 testing requirements (nine per cent) ranked second and third, respectively. Although Americans are more willing and able to travel this summer than in the last two years, the concerns that remain can have a very real impact on travellers’ financial investment and health.