New survey results released by travel researchers STR show that in February 2021, 44% of respondents said they are "less likely to travel on long-haul trips now due to COVID-19" vs. 63% surveyed in August 2020.
Characteristics of persons eager to resume long-haul travel include:
- Younger, typically aged 16 to 54
- More Americans than Europeans, more Europeans than Brits
- Less concerned about COVID-19 health risks
- Have fewer concerns related specifically to traveling, including by air
- More worried about cancellations and refunds than about COVID-19
- More active in researching and planning holidays right now
- More likely to have recently taken an overnight trip
- Active in-market, so more easily targeted and converted
- Rely more on hotels for accommodation vs. friends/family
- Accommodation choice more likely to be influenced by personal recommendations and reviews
When these long-haul enthusiasts will be ready to travel:
- Ready now (23%)
- In the next 6 months (16%)
- By the end of 2021 (23%)
- Sometime in 2022 (27%)
- After 2022 (5%)
- Not in foreseeable future (6%)
Regarding leisure travel in general:
- 66% of survey respondents said they have planned, booked or undertaken travel since 1 January 2021.
- 75% said they plan to take an overnight trip in 2021 despite national and regional lockdowns.
- Most will opt to stay close to home.
Regarding international travel:
- 53% of respondents said that compared with pre-pandemic, they will be more likely or as likely to travel internationally when travel restrictions are eased and more people are vaccinated.
- 85% said that compared with pre-pandemic, they will be more likely or as likely to travel internationally when the pandemic is completely over.
- Travel in and out of the UK is likely to lag behind that to/from North America and continental Europe because of stringent COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Survey data come from a sample of 1,333 members of the STR Traveler Panel.