Survey: 61% of Coloradans Hesitant to Travel

DENVER (Feb. 10, 2020) - Amid the continuing roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, a clear majority of Coloradans remain uncomfortable traveling, per new survey data from AAA Travel. Their main concerns:

• Fears of getting sick (60 percent)
• Concerns about the number of COVID-19 cases (56 percent)
• Concerns about new strains of COVID-19 (47 percent)

Interestingly, despite the widespread economic damage dealt by COVID across the state, only 26 percent of Coloradans are less comfortable traveling now than when the pandemic began due to financial concerns. 

Even as aspects of the pandemic begin to ease in the wake of vaccinations, staying home remains the right thing to do. By and large, Coloradans have gotten that message: Nearly two-thirds of Coloradans (65 percent) canceled or rescheduled their 2020 travel plans, and 80 percent of Coloradans did not make, plan to cancel, or hope to reschedule their plans for 2021. 

For those who do plan to travel, the car is king: 84 percent say they are comfortable using their own vehicle for a road trip. That compares to 73 percent who are comfortable camping, 69 percent who are comfortable traveling in an RV, and 47 percent who are comfortable staying in a hotel or resort. Just 32 percent of Coloradans report being comfortable taking a commercial flight. 

Treatment and Knowledge Fuel Optimism
Still, as we've learned more about the virus and its spread, prospective travelers are growing more confident. Nearly one-fifth of Coloradans (19 percent) are more comfortable traveling now than when the pandemic began, up six percentage points from AAA's October survey. Their growing confidence can be attributed to:

• The implementation of mask use and cleaning policies (52 percent)
• More knowledge about how the virus spreads (40 percent)
• More confidence in medical treatment and outcomes (28 percent)
• Quarantine fatigue/cabin fever (25 percent)

Between now and March, 26 percent of Coloradans have taken or plan to take a vacation of 3 days or more, a number that is expected to grow as the year continues. 44 percent of Coloradans say that they will feel more comfortable traveling once they receive both COVID-19 vaccine doses, while 40 percent say they'll be more comfortable when cases begin to decrease. 

"Our survey drives home that the COVID-19 vaccine is the key to restoring confidence in travel," said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. "To be clear, we are not out of the woods yet, Colorado. Wear a mask, social distance, abide by health and safety guidelines - but rest assured that if we all do that, widespread vaccinations will bring exciting opportunities to travel again."

Additional survey highlights: 

• 95 percent of Coloradans will wear a mask in public while traveling.
• 40 percent are more likely to visit a destination with a mask mandate.
• 51 percent are driving less due to the pandemic
• 33 percent are more likely to purchase travel insurance than before the pandemic.

"For more than a century, AAA has been helping travelers navigate an increasingly complex world," McKinley said. "If you are beginning to make travel plans, we're here to help: When you work with a trusted travel expert, you can make informed decisions in line with your own comfort level - and you'll always have an advocate in your corner."

View the full survey here. 
 

About the AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey
The AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey was conducted online among residents living in Colorado from January 15 - 24, 2021. A total of 400 residents completed the survey. Survey results asked of all respondents have a maximum margin of error of ± 4.9% points. Responses are weighted by age and gender to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the adult population (18+) in Colorado.

About AAA – The Auto Club Group

AAA Colorado is a proud part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the second-largest AAA club in North America with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more.