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Fear of Increased Risks Inhibits Travel

May 16 2003

Many people believe that the risks to American tourists travelling outside the United States are worse today than they were three years ago - before September 11 - and over a quarter (26%) of Americans think they are much worse. In this context, a new Harris Poll in the US has both good and bad news for the travel industry.

The good news includes:


  • Most people do not think the risks are much worse than they were.
  • Only 17% say that their vacation or travel plans have been affected 'in any way' by the war in Iraq or the possibility of terrorism, and this percentage is not significantly different among frequent travellers.
  • When read a list of possible changes in travel and vacation plans some people have made to reduce their risks, most people (59%) say they have not made any changes.


However, the bad news for the industry is that many millions of people have decided not to travel to Europe and other foreign destinations, to fly less, to spend less time away from home, and in some cases, not to travel at all.

The number of people who report having taken some specific decisions includes:

  • 19% of all adults who have decided not to travel to Europe
  • 20% who have decided not to travel to other parts of the world (apart from Europe).
  • 16% who have decided to spend more vacation time in the United States.
  • 12% who have decided to fly less within the United States.
  • 10% who have decided to spend less time away from home.
  • 6% who have decided to choose a different vacation destination.
  • 7% who have decided not to travel at all.


Most people believe that the risks for American tourists travelling outside the United States are much worse (26%) or somewhat worse (33%) than they were three years ago, before 9/11. (It is worth noting that the numbers of American travellers actually affected by SARS or terrorism or any other 'new' risks are very, very small compared to the many other risks people face every day at home or while travelling.)

The 17% of all adults (more than 35 million people) who say their vacation plans have been affected by the war in Iraq or the possibility of terrorism, includes 20% of frequent business travellers and 22% of frequent hotel users.

However, care should be taken in interpreting these replies. For example, some of those who say they have decided, because of increased risks, not to travel abroad, may not have done so anyway. Nevertheless, other bad news for the travel industry in this research is that frequent business travellers, frequent air travellers and frequent hotel users (i.e. the people who spend the most on travel) are more likely than others to have decided to cut their international travel.

These are the results of The Harris Poll, an online survey of 2,179 adults conducted between April 17 and 23, 2003.


All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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