Travel Leaders: 96 Percent of Travelers Have Not Changed Plans Due to Zika

Are your clients asking you about the Zika virus? Travel Leaders Group has released new survey findings that indicate American travelers are largely unfazed by the situation. 

Nearly all of the survey participants - 96.1 percent - said that the Zika virus has not impacted their travel plans this year, although 87.1 percent had heard of the virus. The survey was conducted April 4 to April 30 and includes responses from 3,431 consumers throughout the United States.

“Clearly, many American travelers are informed about Zika, whether from the news media, the CDC or from the conversations our travel agents are having with them on a daily basis,” said Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko.  “What this consumer survey data indicates to us is that Americans are fairly well-educated on Zika and are moving forward with their travel plans.”

Zika’s Impact on Travel Plans

Of the respondents who indicated they had heard of the virus, 97.4 percent said “Yes, I know what Zika is,” and 2.3 percent indicated “Maybe.” Nearly all of the travelers surveyed said that the virus had not impacted their travel plans. Additionally, when asked, “Have you traveled to a country with confirmed cases of Zika this year?” only 21.2 percent of those surveyed said “Yes.” 

In February 2016, Travel Leaders Group conducted a survey of its travel agents. At that time:

Travelers in their 20s and 30s: 74.1 percent of travel agents stated “none” of their clients in their 20s and 30s were canceling (and not rebooking) their travel plans due to the Zika virus.

Travelers in their 40s and 50s: As for clients in their 40s and 50s, 89.8 percent of travel agents stated “none” were canceling (and not rebooking) their travel plans due to the Zika virus.

Travelers 60 and Older: The percentage for clients 60 years or older was even higher. According to that survey data, 93 percent stated “none” of their clients in that age range were cancelling (and not rebooking) their travel plans due to the Zika virus.

Source: Travel Leaders Group