Seven in 10 Americans are planning to take a leisure trip in the next 12 months, according to a recent survey by NerdWallet conducted online by The Harris Poll. More than 2,000 U.S. adults were asked how the COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to effect travel plans; beyond the 70 percent planning to travel, nearly half of respondents (47 percent) said they were planning on taking two or more leisure trips in that span.
When it comes to those hitting the road more than once this year, Generation Z (ages 18 to 25) and Millennials are more likely to do so than members of earlier generations (60 percent of Gen Zers and 58 percent of millennials, versus 41 percent of Gen Xers and 40 percent of Baby Boomers).
Nearly one quarter of Americans who have a travel rewards credit card (23 percent) are saving points or miles to pay for a luxurious or special occasion trip; 17 percent are saving them to pay for an international trip; and 16 percent are saving them because they want to visit a destination not currently accepting tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About two-thirds of Americans who don’t plan on traveling for leisure in the next 12 months say their reasons are COVID-related: 37 percent say it’s because they don’t feel safe traveling due to current or future COVID variants; 19 percent say it’s because they are concerned about COVID-19 case rates at their planned destinations; and 12 percent say it’s because the COVID-related restrictions at their desired destinations are a hassle. Among those not planning on traveling for leisure in the next 12 months, Baby boomers (ages 58 to 76) are more likely to avoid travel for COVID-related reasons than are members of later generations. A little over three in five Boomers (61 percent) cite COVID as a reason for not planning travel, versus 45 percent of Millennials (ages 26 to 41) and 43 percent of Generation Xers (ages 42 to 57).
Source: NerdWallet
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