With a potential recession looming, are Americans wary about making travel plans for the next few months?
Not really, it turns out. New data from YouGov finds that a plurality (45%) say their current outlook on the US economy makes them no more or less likely to travel this winter.
About one-fifth (19%) say they’re less likely to travel this winter, thanks to their views on the economy. A similar number (17%) say their views of the US economy make them more likely to travel this winter.
At least two in five (42%) Americans say they plan to take at least one leisure trip this winter.
Millennials (52%) are especially likely to say they plan to take one or more leisure trips (defined as any trip that is not for work or business). Far fewer Gen X'ers (38%) or Baby Boomers (37%) have similar plans.
Although Americans’ outlook on the economy may not affect their travel plans, many are still conscientious about travel costs. Four in ten say that “cost” is their most important consideration when thinking about taking a leisure trip.
Among all US adults planning to take at least one vacation this winter, most (55%) of them say they plan to spend upward of $400 on travel. Close to one in five (17%) say they plan to spend more than $1,000 on leisure trips this winter.
What kinds of trips are Americans taking this winter? More than one-third (36%) say they’re planning a family trip. Nearly a quarter (23%) say they’re taking a road trip, 17 percent report plans for a domestic trip, 15 percent are spending time on the beach, and 11 percent are headed to a city.
Nine percent are planning an international trip, and an equal number plan to go camping (9%) or attend a concert/festival (9%).
As for who they’re traveling with, 43 percent say they’re traveling with family members this winter. Fewer Americans have travel plans with a partner (39%), their friends (17%), or their pets (10%). Nearly one in seven (15%) have plans for a solo trip this winter.
See full results from this survey here.
Methodology: Total unweighted sample size was 1,276 US adults, including 662 US adults who plan to take at least one leisure trip between December 2019 and February 2020. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (ages 18+). Interviews were conducted online between October 18 - 21, 2019.
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Image: Getty
