Eager to Travel, Americans OK With ‘Vaccine Passport’ Idea

Photo source: JD Power

Eager to travel, Americans are expressing less concern about Covid-19 and flying and welcoming the idea of a vaccine passport, according to a report released recently by travel and hospitality solutions providers JD Power Passenger View.

Based on data collected from more than 1,500 respondents traveling through major US airports in the first week of February, the survey found that stringent safety measures and the introduction of digital vaccination passports may well be paving the way for post-Covid recovery. 

More specifically, participants appear – for the first time since last summer – to be “unconcerned” (25 percent) about being exposed to Covid-19 while traveling compared with those who are “extremely concerned” (15 percent). Though people are still anxious about being exposed, 58 percent expressed moderate-to-little concern. 

Source: JD Power Passenger View

Analysts attribute the improved sentiment to a 68 percent decline in coronavirus cases in the US combined with a far-reaching nationwide vaccine rollout.

At the same time, vaccination is unlikely to affect willingness to travel in the future, with four in 10 saying they planned to travel just as much as before the vaccine was developed. Almost one-third of travelers surveyed are eager to travel once they are vaccinated.

Source: JD Power Passenger View

Closer to the adoption in Europe of a “digital vaccine passport”, most travelers said they were in favor of the initiative with two-thirds saying it’s a good idea, against one-third who feel differently.

Source: JD Power Passenger View

In terms of precautionary measures, 16 percent said improved cleaning at touchpoints was important, as was the use of hospital-grade disinfectants (6 percent). 

In the meantime, 42 percent of respondents said they are likely to continue wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing beyond 2021 while 21 percent said they were likely to stop wearing masks and social distancing immediately after the Covid-19 threat has passed.