Featured image: Whether we choose to travel at home or abroad, we’re managing a range of emotions / Photo by svitlanah on Envato

Latest TravelReady Survey Reveals Optimism and Caution

By Carolyn Ray, Publisher, JourneyWoman

As we look at another year of pandemic travel, predictions abound about what will happen next. In December, we invited women to share their views on 2022 travel in our sixth TravelReady survey of the year. Women are the most influential demographic in travel; we make 80 to 85 per cent of travel decisions and comprise two-thirds of all travellers. The majority (93%) of our survey respondents are 45 and older, with 43% in Canada, 43% in the US and the remaining 14% in over 100 other countries.

Our first question was about the new variant and its impact on 2022 travel plans. Most women (43%) are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach’:  more than one-third (33%) are sticking with their travel plans, whereas only 20% have cancelled or postponed.  While we hear frustration and fear, there is also hope and optimism. One reader said: “I think that we are going to see a lot of different variants come up and this will be our new normal so we just need to ebb and flow and continue living and travelling while being safe.”

There are also those who feel increasing pressure to travel.  We heard: ”I feel hopeless. I don’t think I’ll be travelling next year, and I’ll soon be 70. I feel my time is running out for the kind of trips I had hoped to take!” Another commented: “I lost a year of my life to a pandemic. I want to travel now, before I can’t.” Another said she is “somewhat concerned but I am stubborn and have looked forward to traveling in my retirement for far too long. I turn 70 in 2022 so I have booked several trips and I am going!”

Many solo travellers have a certain comfort with the unknown, but there is also concern about changes in variants. One reader said: “I want to travel but am concerned that I may get “stuck “ due to Covid variants and the changes they may cause me even though I have been vaccinated with a booster.” Another commented:  “Travel is very difficult with all the testing. I do not believe it will change. I am going ahead with my 2022 trips.” Another noted: ”more than anything else it’s the bureaucracy – tests and forms and delays – that really bothers me.”

Those who have travelled feel more confident. One woman said: “I just returned from a trip to Italy with a friend, on our own not on a tour, and I felt very safe. I have three trips booked for 2022.”

Whatever your mindset, it goes without saying that we should avoid traveling to countries with high infection rates, low vaccination rates, and overwhelmed medical infrastructure—all factors that can fluctuate rapidly. The CDC publishes travel recommendations which are updated regularly, and as of today, most of the world is Level 4 (very high), which should be cause for concern for all of us.

5. Advocates for vaccination

Although it wasn’t part of this survey, it’s becoming more apparent that proof of vaccination is becoming a de facto standard for those who want to travel, particularly as new variants emerge. While some countries, like Mexico, have no travel restrictions, the EU is considering vaccine passports across Europe, and Canada has mandated that anyone travelling by plane or train must be vaccinated. 

Our August TravelReady survey showed that 98.4% of respondents said they were vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated for travel. (1.6% preferred not to answer, and 0% said they were not planning to get vaccinated). In that same survey, 90% said they agreed with countries asking for proof of vaccination and 94% felt it was appropriate for tour operators and accommodation owners to ask if guests are fully vaccinated.

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