How Are Travelers Feeling Heading into Fall 2020?

Much remains uncertain in a COVID-19 world, including travelers' opinions about venturing out into the world like they used to. The most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers sheds light on the latest information.

According to the study, half of the travelers feel safe to travel this fall season. Two-thirds of those who plan to travel will be visiting friends and relatives, while 58% plan on a road trip somewhere in the United States. Unsurprisingly, the study indicates that outdoor activities are preferred during pandemic travels, such as visiting national and state parks, fall foliage tours, hiking and biking, visiting a farmer's market, and more.

"Clearly a sizeable percentage of the travelers have settled into a new 'normal' for traveling during the pandemic," said Amir Eylon, President and CEO, Longwoods International, in a statement on the company's website. "The heavy emphasis on visiting friends and family, road trips and individual outdoor activities all reflect on the relative perceived safety of those types of getaways."

The study indicates travelers who would feel safe dining in local restaurants and shopping in retail stores are at 52% percent—up from 31% in early May.

While 67% of travelers planning to travel within the next six months say they will change their travel plans due to the pandemic, only 34% of them are canceling their trip completely—with others saying they're planning to reduce their travel plans (50%), change their destination to a drivable distance instead of flying (33%), or plan to change their trip from international to domestic (15%).

Factors that greatly impact a traveler's decisions to travel in the next six months include COVID-19 (49%), concerns about the economy (22%) and transportation costs (21%).

To view the latest study in its entirety, visit Longwoods International.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Staff Writer for Groups Today.