Despite 70% of U.S. consumers feeling
pent-up desire to travel again, the majority remain anxious about
the cost and safety of traveling
After a year stuck at home, the majority of U.S. consumers, 70%,
say they want to start traveling again, with more than 50% planning
one to two vacations in the next six months, according to
Discover’s annual travel survey.
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70% of consumers have a pent-up desire to
start traveling again. (Graphic: Discover)
Following a stressful and socially distant year, 66% of
consumers are planning trips between one to six days in length and
report their top reasons for wanting to take a vacation are:
- to relax, 37%
- visit family and friends, 18%
- and experience a change of scenery, 10%
Of those looking to spend time with family, Boomers lead the
charge, 28%, compared to 18% of Gen X, 12% of millennials and 9% of
Gen Z. The survey found Gen Z is looking for adventure while
traveling, 21%, compared to 12% of millennials, 10% of Gen X and 7%
of Boomers.
When polled in April, 42% of consumers said they already felt
comfortable traveling, and 12% said they would feel comfortable
traveling when vaccines were widely available to everyone in the
U.S.
“It’s clear consumers have a strong desire to travel again as we
head into the summer months and the economic recovery continues,”
said Jacob Ayoub, vice president of consumer and competitive
insights at Discover. “We know travel trends and consumer needs are
going to continue to shift, but it’s important to note that right
now U.S. consumers are considering costs, flexibility, and the
spread of COVID-19 while traveling.”
Health and safety top of mind for travelers
Eighty percent of consumers say it’s important to find travel
accommodations with strict COVID-19 hygiene protocols – and it
appears this trend isn’t going away.
In the next six months, 74% of consumers reported they will
continue to prioritize the cleanliness rating of their
accommodation when deciding where to stay. Consumers also said
they’re more likely to splurge on pricey accommodations and travel
options if it means they have strict COVID-19 hygiene protocols,
50%, and consumers also say they are more likely to invest in
priority travel passes to avoid crowds, 49%.
When it comes to wearing masks, nearly two in three consumers
say they will continue to wear them while traveling, even after
it’s no longer required. Of those wearing masks, 39% say they’ll
continue to wear them in public spaces, like a hotel or resort, and
36% say they will wear masks when at a transportation hub, such as
an airport or bus station.
Consumers favor cost-effective methods of travel that allow
more control
When deciding where to vacation, consumers report the cost of
their destination, 87%, and the flexibility of cancellation
policies, 86%, are the most important factors, outranking the
spread of COVID-19 variants, 80%, and the number of positive
COVID-19 cases, 80%, in a destination area.
Sixty-two percent of consumers say they are hesitant to take
modes of transportation where they have to be near others. Over
half of U.S. consumers are planning to drive to their next
destination, with just 39% reporting they’ll fly. Most consumers
report plans to take a road trip in the next six months, 29%,
followed by a beach vacation, 21%.
For six in 10 respondents, these trips may be closer to home as
consumers say they’re more likely to travel locally than take large
trips across the country.
Credit cards are the preferred payment method
Fifty-five percent of consumers cite credit cards as their
preferred method of payment while on vacation – a 16 percentage
point increase from Discover’s 2019 travel survey.
Additionally, given the pandemic’s impact on travel and the need
to avoid touching as many surfaces as possible, 56% of consumers
say they will leverage contactless payments more frequently while
traveling.
With credit card points and rewards stacking up the past year,
about one-third of consumers say they’re planning to redeem their
rewards for vacation-related expenses.
“The flexibility of the Discover it® Miles card gives our
cardmembers the ability to travel without being tied to specific
brands or booking portals and based on their comfort level, whether
that’s flying to their next destination or driving to a nearby
getaway,” said Ayoub. “With rewards that can be redeemed as a
statement credit for travel purchases, used toward paying off a
bill or deposited directly into a bank account, cardmembers can
redeem their Miles in ways that work for them.”1
About the Survey
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a Dynata
(formerly Research Now/SSI) survey conducted on behalf of Discover
Financial Services. The survey was conducted online; fielded from
April 23 - 28, 2021 with a total sample size of 2,000 US adults
(ages 18+). The margin of sampling error was ±2 percentage points
with a 90-95 percent level of confidence. The following
generational breaks were used when examining the data: Gen Z
(18-22), Millennials (23-38), Gen X (39-54), and Baby Boomers
(55-73).
About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and
payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in
U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company
has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States.
The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards
pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home
loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit
through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global
Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant
and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading
ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global
payments network with acceptance around the world. For more
information, visit www.discover.com/company.
__________________________________________________________________________
1Starting at 1 Mile, you can redeem your Miles as a credit to
your account to pay for all or part of your bill, for cash as an
electronic deposit to your bank account, or for a credit for Travel
Purchases made on your statement within the last 180 days. Travel
Purchases include airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel
agents, online travel sites, commuter transportation, restaurants
and gas stations.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210615005269/en/
Jennifer Delgado Discover jenniferdelgado@discover.com
224-405-1484 @Discover_News
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