Almost half of Americans are reconsidering travelling abroad because of safety concerns during their holidays, new research reveals.
While 88% said they have, already, plans to travel in the next 12 months, 4 in 10 Americans have begun to chicken out of their next vacation because of how “unsafe” travel will be, according to a poll by Talker Research.
Travel-related concerns are related to potential travel delays and cancellations (42%), current government policies (40%) and current perceptions of American tourists (39%).
They also relate to the possibility of injury during travel (31%), lack of information about the destination (27%), travel to unsafe destinations in the past (16%), and past, unpleasant, travel experiences (15%).
Fears about international travel have increased for both Americans (94%) who have vacationed exclusively at home and those who have traveled abroad (28%), with 30% of the former and 20% of the latter feeling nervous about traveling internationally.
Safety is a priority
A secondary study of 1,500 American travelers conducted by AXA Assistance revealed that people travel primarily to visit family (34%), take a summer vacation (34%) or escape for a weekend (32%).
An overwhelming 95% of Americans said that safety is undoubtedly important to them.
“Travel should be something people can really enjoy and be able to relax. But for many, that’s not always the case,” said Stephen Samataro, chief revenue officer of AXA Assistance. He added: “The concerns people feel are legitimate and reasonable. That’s why insurance is so vital for people who want reassurance that they can worry less when on holiday and focus more on their adventures.”
According to the survey, only 10% bought travel insurance before their last trip, with many believing it was either unnecessary (49%), expensive (40%) or that their trip was too short (28%).
However, 65% are now considering buying insurance before their next trip. American travelers are primarily motivated by being quiet (70%), having international travel plans (55%) and wanting to prevent unforeseen expenses (51%).
In fact, a third (32%) believe travel insurance is the best travel solution, and it is even more popular especially among international travelers (45%).
When looking for travel insurance, many Americans said it is “absolutely essential” to look for a reputable company (50%), to have benefits that meet their needs (45%) and to have clear terms and conditions of coverage (44%).
The American Travel Sentiment Wave 97 survey, conducted with the support of the Miles Partnership, however, found that their financial situation acts as an inhibitor to vacation planning, with 19% confirming this claim.
Reduction in travel and expenditure
According to the survey, 22% of Americans plan to spend less money on summer travel, up from 14% a year ago, while 25% plan to spend more money, up from 30% in April 2024. While, about half plan to spend about the same amount of money on their summer travel as last year.
“The expected reduction in spending is not limited to travel and getaways,” said Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International. He added: “Travellers also report that they expect to spend less across retail, leisure and entertainment.”
Meanwhile, 30% of Americans are limiting the number of trips they plan to take in the next six months, up from 26% a year ago. In addition, 26% are choosing to travel by road instead of air, up from 22% in May 2024.
The role of AI
The influence of AI, with “tools” like ChatGPT, in travel planning continues to grow, with 25% of Americans having utilized an AI “tool” to plan a recent trip, up from 19% a year ago.
The findings of the recent, aforementioned surveys come as the State Department issued a global security “alert” for American travelers following the conflict between Israel and Iran.
