Medjet poll finds experienced travelers may consider COVID "history"

 

NEW YORK - A recent poll conducted by Medjet, the industry leader in air medical transport and crisis response membership for travelers, finds that the majority of its members are less concerned about Covid-19 than about other health and safety risks while traveling. Risks travelers have traditionally been concerned with, such as strokes, heart problems, accidents and falls, as well as concerns about crime, beat out Covid concerns 75% to 25%.

The poll, which was conducted from May 11-17, 2021 and surveyed nearly 1,200 Medjet members throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, provides a current snapshot of travelers' comfort level as vaccinations take hold.

In addition to gauging travelers' concerns about testing positive for or contracting Covid-19 while away from home, the study drew insights on how safe members feel about traveling domestically and internationally once they are vaccinated. The study also surveyed participants' domestic and international summer travel plans, and their planned modes of transport (airplane, car/RV, other).

The new poll results show that the majority of Medjet's members are ready to resume traveling. Some key insights include:

• 90.7% said they'd feel safer traveling domestically and internationally once vaccinated
• 89.8% said they planned to travel this summer
• Of those traveling, 72.4% planned domestic travel, 21% planned BOTH domestic and international travel, 6.4% planned international only
• Of those traveling, 57.2% intended to board airplanes, 38.2% would be traveling by car or RV (4.6% "other")
• 75.3% of respondents were most concerned about non-Covid illnesses and accidents, or travel security/increased crime, while traveling this summer. 

As Europe announces the opening of borders to tourists, the Caribbean and Mexico remain hot destinations for spring and summer travel, and U.S. national parks have seen record-breaking reservations, Medjet has seen a sharp uptick in both member renewals and new consumer membership sales.

"It shows that more than we think is 'back to normal," said Medjet CEO Mike Hallman. "Travelers are back to thinking about all the other things that can happen to them on a trip."

With increases in crime resulting in elevated U.S. Department of State Travel Alerts for many destinations, and political unrest, Medjet has also seen a steady increase in members upgrading to, and new purchases of, MedjetHorizon, its air medical transport and travel security membership that covers those safety threats and more. Compared to pre-Covid April sales numbers, MedjetHorizon is back to about 79% of 2019 sales.

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