Travelers Want Travel Test Requirement Eliminated

Travelers want the pandemic-related policy requirement for a negative COVID test before returning to the U.S. from abroad eliminated, according to Global Rescue’s “Spring 2022 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey,” which polled 1,200 of the travel risk and crisis response provider’s current and former members between April 5 and 9, 2022.

A third of travelers (32 percent) say the U.S. government should immediately eliminate the requirement for a negative COVID test for fully vaccinated inbound international travelers to the U.S. while nearly an equal amount (34 percent) say the requirement should be removed for U.S. citizens but not non-citizens. In fact, 15 percent of survey-takers reported that producing a negative COVID-19 test to meet U.S. re-entry requirements is their main travel concern only behind being stranded away from home after testing positive for COVID-19.  

The overwhelming majority of travelers (84 percent) are less or much less concerned about travel today compared to the beginning of the pandemic. According to the survey, many travelers believe they no longer need pandemic protocols, including masking and physical distancing. Almost half of the respondents (42 percent) say there are no pandemic-related behaviors they plan to continue unless required. A third (33 percent) of respondents disagree and say they plan to continue masking despite easing of mask requirements.  

Note: According to The New York Times, COVID cases are again on the rise in the United States (up 39 percent over the last 14 days). That said, hospitalizations, those in ICUs and deaths are all down over the same period.

Recently, a group of Congressmembers led by Rep. Lou Correa of California called on the Biden Administration to exempt fully vaccinated travelers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current one-day COVID testing requirement. Following the move, American Society of Travel Advisors’ EVP, Advocacy Eben Peck said, “the CDC’s pre-departure testing rule is the single biggest barrier to the full recovery of the international travel system.” ASTA worked with Rep. Correa’s office to gather signatures for the letter.

Related Stories

Stats: Most Americans Are Ready to Move on From Travel Mandates

Saint Lucia Drops Testing for Vaccinated Travelers

Stats: 75% of Americans to Take Domestic Summer Vacation

Jamaica to End Pre-Arrival COVID Testing, Mask Mandate