The increasingly severe weather brought about by global climate change is weighing on the minds of travelers.
In fact, it seems weather risks are playing a greater role in how Americans plan and experience travel, according to a newly released survey from Aon Affinity.
The report found that more than half of Americans (56 percent) said the potential for bad weather — like hurricanes or blizzards — would make them less likely to book travel to certain destinations.
That’s a 7 percentage-point increase since a similar survey was conducted by Aon Affinity in 2019, when the figure came in at 49 percent.
“We’re seeing a shift in how travelers approach leisure travel as climate risks grow,” Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice, said in a statement.
“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,” Godlin added.
The survey — conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Aon Travel Practice, part of the Affinity Business at Aon — queried more than 2,000 American adults ages 18 and older about their attitudes toward travel and travel insurance.
It covered everything from factors that influence travel destinations and recent experiences with travel disruptions to how often they have bought coverage and what motivated them.
Other survey takeaways
Here are some of the additional noteworthy takeaways when it comes to how climate change and severe weather is shaping everything from travel experiences to the travel decision-making process:
Four in five Americans (80 percent) traveled in the past year, and among them, 60 percent experienced some type of travel disruption.
More than two in five Americans who experienced a travel disruption in the past year (44 percent vs. 28 percent in 2019) say it was due to a weather delay.
More than one in four of those who purchased travel insurance (26 percent) say it’s because they were worried about bad weather or a natural disaster impacting their trip.
Women are more likely to fear weather disruptions, with 61 percent stating they are less likely to choose certain destinations due to the potential for bad weather, compared to 52 percent of men.
Boomers (ages 60-78) are the most likely generation to express concern about the impact of climate risk on travel, with 66 percent indicating they would be less likely to book travel to certain destinations because of potential bad weather, compared to 47 percent of Gen Z members (ages 18-27), 48 percent of Millennials (ages 28-43) and 58 percent of Gen X members (ages 44-59).
Additionally, most members of Gen X say potential bad weather would deter them from booking travel, with 58 percent citing this concern, compared to only 47 percent of Gen Z members and 48 percent of Millennials.
“With the rise of climate risks and 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.”
