Americans And Canadians Are Returning To Summer Travel

July 14, 2022

Based on the survey of 1,000 residents of each country, summer travel is close to returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Generali Global Assistance (“GGA”) today announced the findings from American and Canadian respondents to the 2022 Holiday Barometer – the annual poll sponsored by its parent company, Europ Assistance, and conducted by the consumer research firm Ipsos.

The survey was conducted between April 22 and May 13, 2022. This was the first year Canada was surveyed as part of the Holiday Barometer.

Of the Americans surveyed, 60% say they intend to travel this summer – a 10-point jump from 2021 and approaching pre-pandemic levels. A similar number of Canadians surveyed also indicated they plan to travel this summer (61%).

Those traveling are waiting longer to book their travel, however, with only 50% of Americans who said they were planning to travel had started to book their trips. Even more Canadians are procrastinating on booking their travel plans, only 42% of Canadians who indicated they plan to travel have booked their summer plans.

Chris Carnicelli, CEO of Generali Global Assistance, commented on the findings, “Even though travelers still need to take Covid-related precautions, it is reassuring that Americans are traveling again. Last year, the Americans who took the Ipsos survey were optimistic about travel returning to normal in 2022 and seem to have been proven right.

The number of Americans and Canadians who are traveling this summer is a great sign for the industry and, with increased travel budgets, the future of travel is looking up. We are even seeing an uptick in those who want to insure their travel against possible issues they may encounter here or abroad.”

Upcoming Travel Plans

60% of American and 61% of Canadian respondents are planning to travel during the months of July through September, coinciding with summer vacation in North America.
Travel budgets are back up among Americans. Americans are expected to spend $2,750 this year which is almost a 20% jump from last year – outpacing the impact of inflation. Canadians are expected to spend about 10% less than their American counterparts.
While almost half of Americans surveyed have not decided on a summer destination, those who have are favoring domestic travel over international travel. The same holds true north of the border.
- Those traveling internationally are favoring North America over Europe. Top destinations in Europe remain France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
This year, Americans are choosing city vacations over the beach as Covid-related restrictions have eased making urban tourism more appealing. Canada’s top destination types are a close race between cities (38%), countryside (37%), and seaside (35%).

Travel Protection

America’s interest in travel insurance is still increasing, now at 38%, compared to previous years. Canadians are more likely to buy policies with 60% of those surveyed saying they were likely to buy insurance for an upcoming trip.
Among those planning to travel this summer, likely travel insurance purchases are up to 50% of American respondents.
- Americans and Canadians heading overseas are much more likely to purchase a policy than those traveling domestically.
Parents are showing an increased desire for travel insurance when compared with those without children.
The Holiday Barometer also shows that the likelihood of purchasing travel insurance still shows a regional component among U.S. respondents.
- Residents in the northeast and the west are more likely to purchase travel insurance than those who identified as living in the Midwest and the South.

About Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance (GGA) is a leading brand comprised of Travel Insurance & Assistance, Cost Containment, Identity & Cyber Protection, as well as other care services.

GGA is part of the Generali Group, which for over 190 years has provided peace of mind to its clients and their customers and is now supported by more than 72,000 employees worldwide. Our success has been built on establishing trust by putting the customer at the core of everything we do, offering assistance and protection during our customer’s most difficult and stressful situations.

To learn more, please visit their website HERE.