International Travel, Cruising Could Be Travel Segments to Return Last

By Matt Turner Apr 8, 2020 11:18am

In the most recently Travel Intentions Pulse Survey (TIPS): Impact of COVID-19 research conducted by the U.S. Travel Association and MMGY Global shows that travelers feel the least safe on international flights right now. The second-to-last pick was cruises. The percentage who replied they felt safe in those two locations were 10 and 12 percent, respectively. This could signal that international travel and cruising would be among the last segments of travel to return to full force post-coronavirus.

The bright spot, however, is that 60 percent of respondents said they are comfortable in personal cars; another 40 percent said they feel safe in parks. This could signify that road trips and visits to national parks would be the first form of travel to return. Of overnight options, vacation rental homes/condos (25 percent) was the top response, topping hotels/resorts (20 percent).

When considering a leisure trip in the next six months, the slowdown of COVID-19 worldwide (63 percent) is the top response, followed very closely by the slowdown of COVID-19 spread in the U.S. (61 percent). Other popular responses were the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reducing risk advisory level and easing of domestic travel restrictions. In fifth, however, was “great travel deals.”

Across the board, travelers of all ages (18 to 65-plus) are all concerned about their own health (with responses for the four age groups varying from 49 to 59 percent). Younger travelers (18-34) and older travelers (65-plus) are most concerned about the health of others in their household (68 and 67 percent, respectively).

Interestingly, while leisure travel usually rebounds faster than business travel, business travelers who responded were more likely than leisure travelers to participate in all activities. Such options included visiting a bar/restaurant, staying in a hotel/resort, taking a domestic flight, and take an international leisure trip. Only “take a domestic leisure trip” had a tied result.

International Travel, Cruising Could Be Travel Segments to Return Last

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