A new travel survey conducted by polling firm Abacus Data detailed COVID-19’s impact on U.S. travel plans in 2021, highlighting RVing and camping as the safest travel options this year.
Rental marketplace RVezy’s survey revealed 66 percent of Americans considered RVing and camping “not risky.” Despite the increase in vaccine rollouts, RVezy noted the survey found 94 percent of respondents mentioned “doing something safe” as a top priority for future vacation plans.
“Our survey results show that Americans consider RVing and camping almost twice as safe as other types of accommodations such as staying in a hotel,” Abacus Data CEO David Coletto said. “We are also seeing that 66 percent of Americans consider camping in an RV of little to no risk, compared with 38 percent who feel the same way about flying on a plane to a destination.”
RVezy stated the main reasons why Americans are considering RV trips this summer include being outdoors with self-contained accommodations, the ability to maintain social distancing by avoiding crowds, and not needing to quarantine during or after a trip.
“When the pandemic hit in 2020, Americans turned to road trips, camping and RVing as a safe alternative to the traditional flights and hotels,” RVezy co-founder Michael McNaught said. “When families discovered how safe and convenient it was to explore the great outdoors in an RV, word got around. While safety concerns have pushed a lot of Americans to discover RVing for the first time, it is the lasting memories that bring them back year after year.”
Other survey highlights found compared with typical summer vacations, the likelihood of taking a road trip this summer is up 6 percentage points. Intent to fly, stay at a hotel, go on a cruise or stay with friends and family all were down.
Additionally, the survey found 52 percent of respondents consider RVing one of the only safe travel options during COVID-19.
