More travelers are factoring in severe weather risks when planning their vacations, according to a new survey from Aon Affinity Travel Practice. With unpredictable patterns becoming a growing concern, the survey found that over half of Americans (56%) are now reconsidering travel to destinations prone to hurricanes, blizzards, and other extreme conditions – a notable increase from 2019 (49%).
“We’re seeing a shift in how travelers approach leisure travel as climate risks grow,” said Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice. “Our data shows that more than half of Americans, especially women and baby boomers, consider the potential for severe weather more critically than their counterparts when choosing their destinations and determining how and when to safeguard their plans.”
Here are some key highlights from the survey, which was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Aon Travel Practice, and queried more than 2,000 American adults ages 18 and older about their attitudes toward travel and travel insurance:
- Four in five Americans (80%) traveled in the past year, and among them, 60% experienced some type of travel disruption. More than 2 in 5 Americans who experienced a travel disruption in the past year (44% vs. 28% in 2019) say it was due to a weather delay.
- More than 1 in 4 of those who purchased travel insurance (26%) say it’s because they were worried about bad weather or a natural disaster impacting their trip.
- Women are the more likely to fear weather disruptions, with 61% stating they are less likely to choose certain destinations due to the potential for bad weather, compared to 52% of men.
- Boomers (ages 60-78) are the most likely generation to express concern about the impact of climate risk on travel, with 66% indicating they would be less likely to book travel to certain destinations because of potential bad weather, compared to 47% of Gen Z (ages 18-27), 48% of Millennials (ages 28-43), and 58% of Gen X (ages 44-59).
The Aon Travel Takeaway
“With the rise of unpredictable weather patterns, having travel insurance is more important than ever,” Godlin said. “It helps provide travelers with peace of mind and financial protection against unforeseen disruptions, enabling them to focus on enjoying their journey rather than worrying about what could go wrong."