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Travelers struggle to make sense of travel safety protocols amid Delta variant surge
The latest Longwoods International monthly tracking study of American travelers shows increasing confusion over health and safety protocols and travel restrictions.
Despite rising vaccination rates, break-through infections of vaccinated Americans, and increasing case numbers and deaths tied to the Delta variant of Covid-19 is confounding travel planning.
While 90% of travelers do have travel plans within the next six months, a third report that the virus will greatly impact their travel plans with some now postponing trips.
While concerns over Covid-19 continue to be top of mind for many Americans, they are split when it comes to the implementation of health and safety protocols at destinations.
Half of travelers cite having clear health and safety protocols as being important when deciding where to travel.
Still, 44% says that having no travel restrictions at potential destinations is important to them when making these plans.
"Uncertainty about the future path of the pandemic is taking its toll on traveler confidence," said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International.
"The impact of both Labor Day gatherings and back-to-school for tens of millions of students on the spread of the virus probably won’t be known for weeks. Expect last-minute cancellations and volatility in visitation over the coming months."
Only 57% of travelers feel safe traveling outside their communities, which is the lowest level since March.
Less than half now support opening their communities to visitors, also at its lowest percentage level since March.
As concerns grow, American travelers are planning to head outdoors on their upcoming trips.
Six of the top-ten planned activities can be done outdoors and the popularity of the road trip will continue with half of travelers planning to take to the highways this fall travel season.
The survey was supported by Miles Partnership, and conducted on 1 September 2021 using a national sample randomly from a consumer panel of 1,000 adults..
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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