There are mixed emotions about travel in a post-pandemic
world, a new survey has found.
The Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey found
that opinions vary regarding technology designed to improve airport check-ins,
security processing and obtaining COVID-19 booster vaccinations.
More than half (58 percent) of survey respondents have
already received an updated COVID-19 vaccination or plan to get one, which is
consistent with the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group
of Experts on Immunization.
However, almost a third (29 percent) of respondents haven’t
received a COVID-19 vaccination booster and do not plan to in the future. The
remaining respondents (13 percent) are uncertain whether they will get a
booster shot.
Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are equally as likely
to travel internationally and domestically during the holidays between November
2023 and January 2024, according to the survey.
"Travelers feel safe planning and taking trips and
vacations regardless of their vaccination status," said Dan Richards, CEO
of The Global Rescue Companies. "Confidence in institutions recommending
the vaccine and boosters has declined dramatically. We expect vaccine booster
acceptance to continue to fall among travelers."
The U.S. Government has discontinued issuing new proof of
COVID-19 vaccination cards. A few countries still require unvaccinated
travelers to present negative COVID test results before entry.
The threat of other diseases also doesn’t appear to impact
traveler behavior. When the Nipah virus, which has a fatality rate between 40
percent and 75 percent according to the CDC, broke out in India, almost no
survey respondents reported delaying, postponing or canceling a trip to the
country or anywhere else.
Air travel in 2023 is predicted to be up by nearly a third
(29 percent) compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by
Statista, and international travel may close out the year up by as much as 50
percent, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Installation of travel hub kiosks at airports and other
transportation centers is designed to move travelers through the check-in and
ticketing process faster. More than half of respondents (53 percent) have used
the kiosks, but nearly as many (47 percent) have yet to. Most (61 percent) said
the booths sped up the check-in process, but 18 percent reported they would
prefer to check in with a live agent. A minority (3 percent) said the kiosks
were too complicated.
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