Vaccine boosts American travellers’ confidence
Progress with a Covid-19 vaccine could make American travellers motivated to book their next trip, according to an Allianz Partners’ survey
The survey’s findings come at a time when Americans are rapidly learning of promising developments around potential vaccines, bringing newfound hope for the travel industry and 2021 vacation plans. The travel insurance and assistance provider surveyed 3,500 of its customers in order to gauge travellers’ intent in booking trips more than 100 miles from their home (for at least two nights) and to track changing travel sentiment since a similar survey was conducted in the spring.
The majority of customers (58 per cent, up six points from the spring survey), who were surveyed shortly before the news broke last month about a promising vaccine, responded that a proven vaccine would make them feel safe enough to travel, with customers over the age of 65 placing more importance on the vaccine than customers under the age of 45. Health officials announcing it is safe to travel was second (48 per cent, up three points), and the previously top safety measure, advanced sanitisation efforts at hotels, airports, etc. (47 per cent, down five points), came in at third, but was the most important factor among customers under the age of 45.
A substantial step towards recovery for the travel industry
Almost a third of the customers surveyed (32 per cent, up two points) are still not certain when they will next travel. Allianz also found that nine per cent of customers over the age of 65 will be traveling this fall, compared to 18 per cent of customers under the age of 45.
“The promise of a highly-effective Covid-19 vaccine could be a substantial step toward recovery for the travel industry, and as our survey found, a key factor in customers feeling more confident booking trips for 2021,” said Daniel Durazo, Director of Marketing and Communications at Allianz Partners USA. “With pent-up travel demand at a seemingly all-time high, we anticipate Americans will be looking to book their ultimate itineraries in 2021 to their favourite destinations.”
Until further notice, Allianz has made several temporary claims accommodations for trip cancellations, trip interruptions and emergency medical care for those who become ill with Covid-19, and is temporarily accommodating refunds of travel insurance premiums to customers whose travel suppliers have cancelled their trips due to Covid-19, so long as no payable claim has been filed under the plan. And Allianz Partners New Zealand has expanded the scope of its travel policies to include some coverage for epidemic and pandemic diseases, including Covid-19.