TIA: Lethargic Economy Continues to be Greater Influence on Travel than World Events

May 1, 2003

TIA: Lethargic Economy Continues to be Greater Influence on Travel than World Events
The second round of the Travel Industry Association of America’s War Impact Survey revealed that the slow U.S. economy continues to have a greater effect on the travel industry than recent world events. The survey also showed that while certain sectors such as airlines and outbound travel continue to be harshly affected by war, overall travel intentions by Americans remained stable and they continue to making travel plans closer to their departure date.

According to TIA, 82 percent of Americans plan to take at least one trip this spring or summer. Forty-five percent who intended to travel this spring or summer have still not made plans or booked their trips, a percentage unchanged from the association’s first wave of the survey conducted March 20-25.

Among the business and leisure travelers who are traveling less or not at all this spring or summer, concerns about SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) appear to be very low, the survey said. Only 7 percent of both business and leisure travelers report that SARS is the reason they are traveling less or not at all. This is most likely attributable to the fact that the majority of Americans’ business and leisure travel occurs within the United States.

The second wave of the survey was conducted April 10-15 using Web-based surveys among 1,200 online Americans. NTA member organizations that helped conduct the survey were NYC & Company, Kissimmee-St. Cloud Convention & Visitors Bureau, Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Florida, Choice Hotels International, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and the Canadian Tourism Commission.

To view more study results, go to TIA.org.