According to a new poll conducted by The Vacationer, 225 million Americans (87.32 per cent) consider sustainable travel to be either somewhat or extremely essential.
Nearly 82 per cent say they will make more sustainable (environmentally friendly) travel decisions, and almost 78 per cent say they would pay more to reduce their carbon footprint. Americans are taking sustainable travel more seriously this year than last year, and they are willing to spend more money to help.
On March 1, 2022, The Vacationer conducted an anonymous survey of 1,096 American people. Eric Jones, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Rowan College South Jersey, analyzed the results for The Vacationer. The poll was conducted ahead of Earth Day to measure public opinion on sustainable and environmentally friendly travel.
Key Stats
The importance of sustainable travel is being recognized by more people than ever.
According to a survey conducted last year, 82.67 per cent of people believe that sustainable travel is vital. This year’s result is 87.32 per cent, an increase of 4.65 per cent. 53.10 per cent believe it is somewhat important, while 34.22 per cent believe it is extremely important. The results of last year’s poll can be found here.
Even though it is inconvenient, more people intend to make sustainable travel decisions.
When it comes to travel, 81.57 per cent of adults in the United States intend to make more sustainable (environmentally friendly) decisions. Of that number, 29.84 per cent say they will make decisions regardless of whether they are inconvenient, while 51.73 per cent say they will only do so if they are not inconvenient.
According to last year’s study, 74.85 per cent planned to make more environmentally friendly travel selections, with 26.55 per cent stating they would do so even if it inconvenienced them.
More People Are Willing to Spend More Money on Travel to Lower Their Carbon Footprint.
Participants were asked how much more they would be willing to spend on their next vacation to reduce their carbon footprint.
- $0 — 21.72%
- Less than $50 — 33.39%
- Between $50 and $250 — 33.21%
- Between $250 and $500 — 9.22%
- Over $500 — 2.46%
78.28 per cent of Americans, or 202 million people, are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly travel. The willingness to spend more was only 71.37 per cent last year, so this is a significant increase. Almost a quarter of respondents (12 per cent) say they are willing to invest $250 or more.
When it comes to booking travel, most people still prioritize cost and convenience.
When it came to scheduling a trip, participants were asked which element was most important to them.
- Cost — 59.58%
- Time and Convenience — 33.58%
- Sustainability and Carbon Footprint — 6.84%
While most individuals care about environmentally friendly travel, cost and comfort still take precedence.
Only 18 per cent believe there are enough sustainable transportation options.
When it came to flights, hotels, and rental cars, participants were asked if they believed enough sustainable travel options were available.
- Yes — 18.16%
- No — 37.41%
- I do not know — 44.43%
81.84 per cent of respondents believe there aren’t enough sustainable travel options or simply do not know. Conversely, only 18.16 per cent of respondents think there are sufficient possibilities.
When booking, the majority of people do not use sustainable travel filters.
Nearly two out of every ten people utilize sustainable travel filters when booking, whereas more than 80 per cent don’t use them or are unaware that they exist.
View Full Report for More Data: https://thevacationer.com/sustainable-travel-survey-2022/
About The Vacationer
The Vacationer is a company providing comprehensive breaking news and guides to help with travel and vacation planning. Designed for both personal and business travelers and families, The Vacationer also provides tips on how to maximize travel points and miles. Learn more at TheVacationer.com.
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