DEARBORN, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A new AAA travel survey, conducted in January, reveals that 62 percent of Michigan residents are uncomfortable traveling during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The main concerns are:
- Fears of getting sick (59%)
- New strains of the virus (51%)
- The number of COVID-19 cases (49%)
The travel industry has been hit hard by this pandemic. Two-thirds of Michiganders canceled or rescheduled travel plans in 2020. Currently, almost half of Michigan residents are comfortable staying in a hotel or resort, while only 27 percent feel comfortable taking a commercial flight. The majority feel most comfortable traveling in their personal vehicle.
With more known about the virus and how it spreads, there appears to be growing confidence among some travelers. About 1 in 5 Michigan residents (21%) say they are more comfortable traveling now than when the pandemic began, 12 percentage points more than when AAA last surveyed in October. Their growing confidence was attributed to:
- The implementation of mask use and cleaning policies (44%)
- More knowledge about how the virus spreads (37%)
- Quarantine fatigue or wanting to get out of the house (21%)
- Having received the COVID-19 vaccination (20%)
This year, over half of Michigan residents plan to take at least one vacation of three days or more. Over one-third of respondents plan to take multiple trips, up 9 percentage points from 2020. However, about 20 percent of residents say they will feel more comfortable traveling after receiving both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and when cases begin to decrease.
“The Covid-19 vaccine truly is the key to restoring Americans’ confidence in traveling again,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, 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:
- 77% will wear a mask in public while traveling
- 36% are more likely to visit a destination with a mask mandate
- 58% are driving less due to the pandemic (31% – no change in driving habits)
- 36% are more likely to purchase travel insurance than before the pandemic
- 72% will not travel in Q1 (48% cite the pandemic as a reason why)
