CONFIDENCE is growing among travellers to take to the sky again, but they are frustrated with the loss of freedom to travel due to current restrictions.
These are some of the results of a poll from 4,700 online interviews in 11 markets conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) between 15 and 23 February. Participants had taken a plane trip in the past 11 months.
Travel restrictions also led to health, social and economic issues, with 68% of respondents indicating their quality of life is suffering as a result. About 40% reported mental stress and missing an important human moment as a result of restrictions. Over a third said restrictions prevented them from doing business normally.
More on what the respondents have to say about travel restrictions:
- 88% believe when opening borders the right balance must be struck between managing Covid risks and getting the economy going again.
- 85% think governments should set Covid targets, such as testing capacity or vaccine distribution, to reopen borders.
- 84% is of the view Covid will not disappear, and there is a need to manage its risks while living and traveling normally.
- 68% agree their quality of life has suffered with travel restrictions.
- 49% feel air travel restrictions have gone too far.
“The top priority of everybody at the moment is staying safe amid the Covid-19 crisis. But it is important that we map a way to being able to re-open borders, manage risks and enable people to get on with their lives. That includes the freedom to travel,” commented IATA’s director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac on the findings.
He noted that given the health, social and economic costs of travel restrictions, airlines should be ready to reconnect the world as soon as governments are able to reopen borders. “That’s why a plan with measurable milestones is so critical. Without one, how can we be prepared for restart without an unnecessary delay?”
The poll also generated trends for future travel from respondents answers.
- 57% expect to be travelling within two months of the pandemic being contained (49% in September 2020).
- 72% want to travel to see family and friends as soon as possible after Covid is contained (63% in September 2020).
- 81% will be more likely to travel once they are vaccinated.
- 84% will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at destination (83% in September 2020).
- 56% will postpone travel until the economy stabilises (65% in September 2020)
- 62% are likely to travel less for business even after the virus is contained (72% in September 2020).
“People want to get back to travel but quarantine is the show-stopper. As testing capacity and technology improves and the vaccinated population grows, the conditions for removing quarantine measures are being created. And this points us again towards working with governments for a well-planned reopening as soon as conditions allow,” said de Juniac.
View the full results of the survey here. (PDF)
• Featured image credit: exithamster/Getty Images
