When asked what aspect of travel people missed most, the answers were both enlightening and refreshing. Across all age groups and infection-risk levels, respondents proved that the crisis hasn’t diminished our wanderlust.
“(I miss) seeing new places. My world has become very small since the virus started. I look forward to something new and different.” –50+ traveler, living in the US Midwest, self-identified as being at elevated risk from COVID-19
“The sense of freedom and adventure that comes with going to a new place, meeting new people and learning about foreign cultures.” –26-34 traveler, living on the US East Coast
“I miss planning and anticipating trips as something to look forward to in the year.” –35-49 traveler, living on the US East Coast
For some, the pandemic has been a wake-up call to stop postponing travel plans, and inspired them to waste no time once travel bans are lifted. Others are hopeful that the crisis will facilitate a change in the way people conduct themselves while traveling.
“I wasted time making any serious plans to travel. I believe that I would start my plans to be a world drifter in 2020. Then coronavirus happened and now I have been sitting in quarantine wondering why I wasted so much time. Why I didn’t just get out there and go. Once the dust has settled I don’t plan on dilly dallying.” –26-34 traveler, living outside of North America
“I would like to see a substantial shift in the habits of travelers, the way tourism companies operate, and the way travel influencers promote destinations.” –26-34 traveler, living on the US East Coast
For more of the study’s findings, check out the insight report in full. 