86% of Consumers Are Planning At Least Four Trips in 2023!

Survey Respondents also Preferred Facebook for Trip Inspiration, Free Airline Meals and Sitting Between Two Kids vs. a Bickering Couple

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (JANUARY 4, 2023) – A new survey from insurtech pioneer VisitorsCoverage finds purchasing travel insurance is a top priority on most travelers’ pre-departure checklists and wanderlusters are feeling bullish when it comes to planning domestic and international travel. The survey results included the opinions of a random sample of over 1,000 frequent travelers across the U.S., all of whom travel more than twice a year.

Highlights include:

• 79% of travelers are more inclined to buy insurance than in recent years

• 82% of respondents find trip inspiration on Facebook while 77% use Instagram and 61% tune into TikTok            

• 35% of survey participants agreed that they would rather be stuck between two kids before they would choose to sit between a bickering couple, armrest hogs, or passengers with shoes and socks removed

General Sentiment on Travel Insurance

Travel insurance continues to be top of mind for travelers with 79% of survey respondents reporting they were planning to purchase trip protection when booking their 2023 travel. 50% of those surveyed had brought travel insurance in the past.

What Travelers Are Missing, Wanting to Avoid and Being Inspired By

Though travelers are receiving more and more perks from airlines and at airports, the survey results showed that what respondents are truly missing are complimentary meals on planes (42%), with a free carry-on ranking second (25%) and in-flight entertainment that doesn’t require a phone or laptop close behind (24%).

When asked who they would rather be stuck in a middle seat between on airplanes, 35% of survey participants agreed that they’d rather be stuck between two toddlers before they would choose to sit between a bickering couple (27%), armrest hogs (16%) or passengers with shoes and socks removed (14%). Of the survey group, 8% agreed that they would cancel the whole trip if they were assigned a middle seat.

Polling consumers on where they find inspiration for their upcoming trips, the survey revealed that there were several sources for motivation: Friends and family (76%), social media (71%) and TV, mainly documentaries, (56%). In terms of social media, three platforms reign supreme – the survey found that 82% are influenced by Facebook, 77% by Instagram and 61% of respondents are turning to TikTok, where there is continued dominance in search and consumer habits.

Where and How Consumers Plan to Travel in 2023

The results from polled participants confirmed that “revenge travel” is still surging with 43% of participants saying that they will take over five trips in 2023 and another 43% saying they will take between three to four trips. When picking a destination, travelers agree that affordability is top of mind, with wellness ranking as the second priority with food/culture following very close behind. Sustainability also continues to be a top factor for travelers with 75% of respondents saying it’s “very important” in the process of making travel decisions.

Travelers are feeling much more comfortable jaunting across the world. 88% confirmed they will be traveling for pleasure while nearly 70% confirmed that they will be traveling both domestically and internationally in the next year. Domestic travel leads the poll while international destinations in Europe are the most popular (55%). Australia ranks as the second most popular international destination (35%) and South America follows as the third most preferred (30%).                                             

How Travelers Plan to Get Around

For 2023, air travel continues to be the favored mode of transportation with 84% planning to fly to their destinations for at least one of their planned trips. Road trips still continue to be extremely popular amongst travelers, as 78% confirmed that they planned for a drivable getaway. Since most travelers will have upwards of three trips planned for 2023, it is no surprise cruising (48%) and train travel (44%) are also slated to be enjoyed.

Top 2023 Travel Concerns

When asked about summer travel concerns, the top two issues cited by survey-takers were “the economy and inflation” (29%) and “flight delays” (22%). Other concerns include “fear of the unknown” (16%), “risk of illness” (15%), “inclement weather” (15%) and “baggage nightmare scenarios” (2%).

“Travelers are now more aware of unforeseen circumstances that can affect their travel plans, and they are eager to take precautions to protect their investment,” states VisitorsCoverage CEO Rajeev Shrivastava. 

VisitorsCoverage offers travel insurance to protect consumers against unexpected travel hiccups including epidemic illnesses, medical emergencies, unforeseen cancellations, trip interruptions, travel delays and baggage issues. For more information on VisitorsCoverage and available travel policies, please visit https://www.visitorscoverage.com.

About VisitorsCoverage Inc.:

Founded in 2006, VisitorsCoverage has helped millions of customers in over 175 countries find the travel insurance they need to feel safe, secured and well prepared for their journeys. Our award-winning and innovative marketplace of top-rated travel medical and trip insurance plans helps travelers research, compare and buy affordable travel insurance online in minutes. Find insurance for the way you travel at VisitorsCoverage.com.