60% of Georgians Are Uncomfortable Traveling During the Pandemic
Thursday, February 18th, 2021
A new AAA travel survey, conducted in January, reveals that 60 percent of Georgians are uncomfortable traveling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their main concerns are:
- Fears of getting sick (60%)
- New strains of the virus (50%)
- The number of Covid-19 cases (56%)
Click here to view the AAA Consumer PulseTM Survey
The travel industry has been hit hard by this pandemic. Two in Three Georgians (65%) canceled or rescheduled travel plans in 2020. Currently, over half (52%) of Georgians are comfortable staying in a hotel, while only 34 percent feel comfortable taking a commercial flight. The majority (81%) feel most comfortable traveling in their personal vehicle.
Treatment and Knowledge Fuels Optimism
With more known about the virus and how it spreads, there appears to be growing confidence among some travelers. A quarter (26%) of Georgians say they are more comfortable traveling now than when the pandemic began. Their growing confidence was attributed to:
- The implementation of mask use and cleaning policies (47%)
- More confidence in medical treatment and outcomes (30%)
- More knowledge about how the virus spreads (29%)
- Having taken a trip without contracting the virus (23%)
This year, over half of Georgians (59%) plan to take at least one vacation of 3 days or more. Nearly half (43%) of respondents plan to take multiple trips. However, nearly 2 in 5 residents say they will feel more comfortable traveling after receiving both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine (38%) and when cases begin to decrease (34%).
“The Covid-19 vaccine truly is the key to restoring Americans’ confidence in traveling again,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “With health experts predicting widespread vaccinations by the summer, AAA Travel Advisors are seeing growing interest in bookings for the second half of the year."
Additional survey highlights:
- 81% will wear a mask in public while traveling
- 38% are more likely to visit a destination with a mask mandate
- 54% are driving less due to the pandemic (33% - no change in driving habits)
- 35% are more likely to purchase travel insurance than before the pandemic
- 64% will not travel in Q1 (54% cite the pandemic as a reason why)
“For over 100 years, AAA has been helping travelers travel safely and enjoyably,” Waiters continued. “That’s why AAA encourages the use of a trusted travel agent. They are the experts who help you consider options and make informed decisions that fit your comfort level.”