American travelers are being scared by gas prices this summer, while Canadians seem to be avoiding international travel.
According to the latest Longwoods International survey, 44% of American travelers say they’re reducing the number of trips they’re taking because of record-high prices at the pump, up from 36% in May. A similar percentage are also shifting to destinations closer to home as another way to cope with high gas prices. Only 12% of those surveyed said rising gas prices are not impacting their travel plans.
“Fuel costs continue to be a drag on the travel industry recovery,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “And travelers report they also are spending less on retail purchases, entertainment and recreation, and food and beverage.”
The percentage of travelers who said that concerns about their personal financial situation will greatly impact their travel decisions in the next six months jumped to 31% in the latest survey, up from 25% in June. And despite the recent surge in cases nationally, only 19% of American travelers say that COVID-19 will greatly impact their travel plans in the next six months.
Meanwhile, a Nanos poll of Canadians finds that many are shunning international travel this year.
According to the survey, commissioned by CTV News, 61% of Canadians aren’t making any international travel plans at all, while six per cent of Canadians said they had international travel plans this summer and cancelled them. Another three per cent said they had booked international travel, but may still cancel their trips.
Twelve per cent of travelers remain undeterred with their travel plans and have no intention to cancel them, which is still a reasonably good number.
