The vaccinated are less comfortable attending indoor events and dining indoors than the unvaccinated.
NEW YORK – Due to spread of the Delta variant, the fully vaccinated are becoming less comfortable with traveling, according to a report from The Points Guy. Vaccinated travelers are becoming increasingly concerned by the Delta variant especially when it comes to flying domestically, flying internationally, and traveling to another city/town, and are more likely to report being more uncomfortable now than they were prior to the Delta variant outbreak. Additionally, vaccinated adults feel less comfortable overall participating in various entertainment activities including dining indoors and going to outdoor and indoor public events. Click here for more information:
Unvaccinated and vaccinated travelers (those who at least occasionally fly domestically, and/or internationally, and/or travel to a different city/town) differ when it comes to feeling unchanged or less comfortable since the Delta variant became more widespread earlier this summer:
|
|
Fully Vaccinated |
Unvaccinated |
|
Domestic Flight* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
49% |
26% |
|
Unchanged |
31% |
53% |
|
International Flight* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
53% |
29% |
|
Unchanged |
29% |
50% |
|
Traveling to a Different City/Town* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
35% |
16% |
|
Unchanged |
40% |
62% |
* Among those who at least occasionally do these activities
Overall, 70% of travelers feel comfortable traveling to a different city/town, 45% feel comfortable taking a domestic flight and 37% feel comfortable taking an international flight. Again, unvaccinated travelers are more likely to feel comfortable traveling to a different city/town (76% vs. 70% vaccinated), flying domestically (61% vs. 41% vaccinated), and flying internationally (55% vs. 31% vaccinated).
Additionally, millennial travelers (ages 25-40) are more likely than other generation to feel comfortable taking a domestic flight (51%) versus Gen Z (ages 18-24, 45%), Gen X (ages 41-56, 46%) and baby boomers (ages 57-75, 40%). Millennial travelers also feel more comfortable taking an international flight (46%) compared to Gen Z (35%), Gen X (40%) and baby boomers (29%).
“The emergence of new and aggressive strains of the coronavirus is adding to the uncertainty some people are feeling when it comes to booking travel,” says Melanie Lieberman, senior travel editor at The Points Guy. “Not only are people worried about their health, but also people are once again concerned about having their travel plans disrupted by trip cancellations, destination lockdowns or new restrictions and regulations."
Lieberman adds, “Travelers, of course, need to continue to take precautions to stay safe, including wearing a mask, maintaining a safe physical distance from others, avoiding crowds and washing their hands frequently. But travelers also need to protect their investments in travel. Now is an important time to think about getting travel insurance, booking flexible and easily cancelable travel plans and perhaps even coming up with a contingency plan in case your trip falls through entirely.”
Aside from travel, unvaccinated park and public beach frequenters, eventgoers and diners are more likely to feel no difference in comfort level participating in these various activities than they were prior to the Delta variant, while also being less likely to feel increased discomfort:
|
|
Fully Vaccinated |
Unvaccinated |
|
Visiting a State or National Park* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
26% |
12% |
|
Unchanged |
45% |
63% |
|
Visiting a Public Beach* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
32% |
15% |
|
Unchanged |
42% |
61% |
|
Going to an Outdoor Event* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
40% |
20% |
|
Unchanged |
38% |
58% |
|
Attending an Indoor Event* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
51% |
23% |
|
Unchanged |
30% |
55% |
|
Dining Indoors* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
45% |
20% |
|
Unchanged |
29% |
56% |
|
Dining Outdoors* |
|
|
|
Less Comfortable Now |
27% |
13% |
|
Unchanged |
42% |
61% |
* Among those who at least occasionally do these activities
With the recent spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant and other variants in the US in mind, 80% of state or national park frequenters and 69% of public beachgoers feel comfortable visiting. When it comes to attending events, 59% of outdoor eventgoers (i.e., concert, festival, sporting event, etc.) and 44% of indoor event attendees (i.e., theater, museum, comedy show, concert, etc.) feel comfortable attending. The majority (80%) of outdoor diners feel comfortable eating outside while 61% still feel comfortable eating indoors.
Eighty-one percent of unvaccinated state or national park frequenters feel comfortable going back compared to 82% of those who are fully vaccinated, and 81% of both vaccinated and unvaccinated outdoor diners feel comfortable eating outside in public. More than three-quarters (76%) of unvaccinated public beachgoers would be OK returning vs. 69% vaccinated. The gaps for comfortability are wider for indoor diners (75% unvaccinated vs. 56% vaccinated), outdoor event attendees (72% unvaccinated vs. 55% vaccinated), and indoor event attendees (63% unvaccinated vs. 37% vaccinated).
Lieberman explains, “Some people – particularly those who are fully vaccinated – are also now less comfortable with certain events and activities, which could affect the types of plans they’re making in the near future. Dining indoors and attending indoor and outdoor events, were among those activities some people are less comfortable with in light of the delta variant.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
