Notwithstanding lockdowns in many countries because of the COVID-19-driven global pandemic, many travelers would like to take a trip this summer, and they are willing to share their personal medical history and travel plans in order to help keep themselves and those around them safe.
So says the results of a survey conducted by New Hampshire-based Global Rescue, which provides medical, security, intelligence, and crisis response services on a global scale—it has offices and operations centers throughout the world. It recently conducted a survey of its members and also found that many would be willing to take measures that they would not necessarily have been prepared to take previously, in order to restart travel.
“Many travelers are planning to hit the road again this summer and they are willing to share personal medical history and travel plans to help keep themselves and those around them safe,” Global Rescue CEO Dan Richards said in a statement announcing the survey results.
Based on 1,300 responses collected from its members on April 23-24, including government agencies, corporates, universities, nonprofits and tour operators, the company’s survey found that, for starters, 77 per cent are expecting to make a trip by the end of October, while 41 per cent expect to make their next trip by July or earlier and 36 per cent are planning their initial trip sometime between August and October. Other survey findings include the following:
—91 percent of those surveyed are willing to subject themselves to screening and testing.
—73 percent are willing to disclose medical conditions related to a compromised immune system.
—93 percent are willing to share their past 14-day travel history.
—58 percent are willing to have their physical location tracked and traced with data temporarily retained.
—77 percent are expecting to make a trip by the end of October
—41 percent expect to make their next trip by July or earlier
—36 percent are planning their initial trip sometime between August and October
—Less than 9 percent believe their earliest post-pandemic trip will be during the holiday months of November and December
—Fewer than 7 percent expect to make their first trip sometime between January and March 2021
—7 percent predict their next trip won’t be until sometime after April 2021.
—Asked for the reason for their first trip, domestic trips were favored by a two-to one margin.
—75 percent of initial trips are expected to be family holidays, leisure trips to visit friends, or destination getaways.
—less than 10% expect their first trips to be for business only.
—15 percent say their initial travel plans will be for both business and pleasure.
—Queried about trips booked during the global travel restrictions, more than 42 percent reported they were forced to cancel their travel plans, 16 percent said they voluntarily abandoned trips and 27 percent postponed their trips.
—Nearly 60 percent of those who canceled or postponed travel expect to book another trip as soon as they feel safe.
—13 percent report they will reserve another trip to take advantage of travel discounts and deals.
—Fewer than 1.5 percent plan to spend their money on other things unrelated to travel.
