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Research Outline

Prepared for Jacqueline C. | Delivered May 8, 2020

US Travel Sentiment post-COVID-19

Goals

To determine the sentiment of US travelers regarding domestic vacation travel after the COVID-19 pandemic, with information about their worries, the age groups that are most likely to travel sooner, the activities travelers are more likely to engage in, as well as the destinations travelers are more likely to consider.

Early Findings

Insights on Americans' Travel Sentiment

  • According to results from the Harris poll, 15% of Americans are willing to fly within a month after the government discloses that the pandemic is abating, a total of 31% are willing to fly in 3 months, while a total of 49% disclosed that they will fly in six months.
  • According to the Longwoods International bi-weekly travel sentiment study, 82% of travelers plan to change their upcoming travel plans due to the pandemic, 22% plan to change their travel destinations to the ones they car drive to, instead of flying.
  •  38% of Americans are willing to take more road trips this year to avoid air travel, while 78% are willing to do so to avoid traveling outside the US.
  •  39% of surveyed Americans are willing to take a leisure trip in the next six months, down from 82% in February. In general, business travelers feel safer to travel than leisure travelers.
  • According to data from the ADARA COVID-19 resource center for the week of 4/8, the most likely travel destination for July 4th, as well as for the first and second half of August, is Denver. The most likely travel destination for Labor day is Las Vegas.
  • According to survey results from the week of 3/23, 96% of travel organizations/agencies believe the pandemic will have an extreme effect on local tourism, up from 31% on the week of 3/9.
  • According to data from a Longwoods International study, 52% of Americans plan to visit friends and family domestically in their first trip after the pandemic; 74% of them plan to travel by car, while 26% plan to travel by air. In general, 86% of travelers plan to visit a domestic destination after the pandemic.
  • Insights from Destination Analysts show that most (over 70%) of American travelers are eager to travel, while more than 29% say they will not travel until a vaccine is developed for COVID-19. More insights regarding travelers' sentiment can be found here.
  • As revealed by Lori Pennington-Gray, the director of Tourism Crisis Management Initiative at the University of Florida, in general, travelers under the age of 25 years are less anxious because of the travel risk posed by the pandemic, compared to older travelers. Also, a survey in March showed that those earning $125,000 or more annually were more interested in traveling than those with lower income.

Summary

Our initial research reveals that there is sufficient information regarding the sentiment of travelers regarding local vacations and tourism, post-COVID19. Presented above is an overview of our findings. Notably, there was less information regarding which age groups are more likely to travel sooner, as well as the activities travelers are more likely to engage in.

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