In the United States, consumers are still travelling for the holiday period with 66 per cent opting to drive to their destination this year; they are unlikely to give up family time, but they are more likely to ditch party plans for the New Year, according to a Cars.com survey.
The report found that 46 per cent of Americans plan to travel in December for the holiday season, with COVID-19 impacting many travel decisions and prompting the majority of travellers to use their personal vehicles instead of public transportation or travel by airplane.
“Many people are staying home for the holidays as suspected, and those who are traveling will continue to rely on their personal vehicle,” said Jenni Newman, Editor-in-Chief at Cars.com. “For most holiday travellers, the decision to drive is no longer primarily influenced by cost or convenience, but safety and security,”
Newman said the company has been tracking travel plans since October, and has watched as the number of New Year’s travellers has steadily decreased since then. This may indicate that consumers are unwilling to give up family time, but may be willing to pass on the New Year’s party.
Only 33 per cent of consumers in the U.S. that were surveyed plan to travel for New Year’s, which is down from 41 per cent in October and is likely due to rising COVID-19 cases and renewed travel restrictions in certain states.
“When it comes to important decisions like whether to celebrate the holidays in person or virtually this year, we recommend following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and staying up-to-date with local COVID-19 rules and restrictions to make the best decision for you and your loved ones,” said Newman.
