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Despite security issues, Americans plan to travel
Despite continuing economic uncertainty and ongoing national security issues, a new independent phone poll of Americans commissioned by Travelocity indicates that an overwhelming majority of consumers are planning to travel in 2003 for business and leisure. Many of them will venture further from home than they did in 2002. Of those who have made some decision about their travel plans in 2003, 85 percent plan to travel and nearly half would still travel regardless of heightened homeland security levels.

Travelocity's third-party research also reveals that the largest group of survey participants, almost 30 percent, will choose to spend time with their families in 2003 over other types of vacation activities. Additionally, nearly 50 percent plan on taking a combination of short and long trips for 2003 (a 7 percent increase over 2002).
The poll, a random phone survey of 1,000 respondents independently conducted for Travelocity by Telenation, a service of Market Facts, was completed in December 2002.

"It's encouraging for the industry to see that many Americans plan on traveling in the coming year, regardless of the current economic environment or the potential for increased security alerts," said Amy Ziff, editor-at-large for Travelocity. "It's important to note that the American consumer remains confident whether traveling for business or leisure, according to this research."

Additional survey findings include:
• The vast majority of respondents are likely to go ahead with travel plans for 2003 regardless of current global events and a pending war in the Middle East.
• 83 percent are extremely or at least somewhat likely to proceed with personal travel plans.
• 86 percent are extremely or at least somewhat likely to proceed with business travel plans.
• A significantly higher number of survey participants indicate intentions of traveling to Europe, Canada, Central or South America in 2003.
• Survey revealed that travelers planning to go to Europe in 2003 compared to 2002 more than doubled.
• There was a 34 percent increase in travelers planning to go to Canada, Central or South America in 2003.
• In both 2002 and 2003, more than 80 percent of respondents traveled to and plan to travel to U.S. destinations further from home (more than 200 miles).
• Some travel patterns would be affected in light of heightened security risks or another U.S. war.
• There was a decrease of 18 percentage points in travelers willing to travel by air if the risk level of security alerts was heightened.
• There was a decrease of 16 percentage points in travelers willing to travel by air if the U.S. entered a war in the Middle East.Top 10 types of vacations planned for 2003 are:

1. Spending time with family.
2. Beach vacations.
3. Camping/outdoors/nature trips.
4. Amusement/theme parks.
5. Cultural experiences.
6. Adventure vacation.
7. Cruse.
8. Architectural/historical sites.
9. Fishing trips.
10. Guided tours.

The largest group of respondents plan on taking a combination of short and long trips in 2003, and 48 percent plan to take a combination of short and long trips in 2003, a 7 percent increase from 2002.

Northeast respondents were slightly less likely than other regions of the country to proceed with personal travel in light of current global events and pending war

• 80 percent of survey participants from the Northeast were likely to proceed with travel plans.
• 85 percent of survey participants from the West were likely to proceed with travel plans.
• 84 percent of survey participants from the Midwest were likely to proceed with travel plans.
• 83 percent of survey participants from the South were likely to proceed with travel plans.The Travelocity study was fielded from December 6 through December 8, 2002 via a phone survey of a random sample of the U.S. population by Telenation, a service of Chicago-based Market Facts, a global marketing research consulting and information company. The research included responses from 1,000 Americans.

Article courtesy of Travelocity.com

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