SUMMER 2016 VACATION SPEND JUMPS $5 BILLION TO REACH $90 BILLION
Allianz Travel Insurance’s Vacation Confidence Index Reveals That While Fewer Americans Will Take a Summer Vacation in 2016, They’ll Spend 11% More Than Last Year
Fewer Americans will travel, but spend more, on summer vacations, according to the eighth annual Allianz Travel Insurance Vacation Confidence Index released today by Allianz Global Assistance.
The amount of money Americans will spend on their vacation, on average, has increased significantly, according to the survey. The average American household that is at least somewhat confident they will take a vacation this summer will spend $1798 on average, up roughly 11 percent from last year’s average of $1621 per household. The total projected spend for Americans on summer vacations in 2016 is $89.9 billion, up from $85.5 billion in 2015.
The survey, which tracks Americans’ confidence that they will be able to take a summer vacation and reports how much they intend to spend while vacationing, revealed that while half (50 percent, down one point since last year) of Americans are confident (36 percent very/14 percent somewhat) they’ll take a vacation in 2016, four in ten (39 percent, up three points) are not confident (26 percent not at all/12 percent not very). One in 10 (10 percent, no change) have already taken a vacation this year while less than one percent (down three points from last year) are unsure.
Even though the proportion of Americans who remain confident that they’ll take a vacation in 2016 is holding steady, the survey found a rising proportion of Americans (65 percent) who say that taking an annual vacation is important to them (36 percent very/29 percent somewhat), up a significant eight points since last year and rebounding to levels last recorded in 2010.
“With vacation spending up, travel insurance should be near the top of the trip planning checklist,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA. “The right travel insurance policy will protect a consumer's pre-paid travel expenses when they have to cancel their trip due to certain unexpected situations such as a covered illness or injury and will provide reimbursements for things like medical emergencies, delayed travel and lost or delayed baggage."
Allianz Travel Insurance’s Vacation Confidence Index also found an increase in the Vacation Deficit, or percentage of Americans who think that a vacation is important but are not confident they'll be able to take one. In 2016, nearly one quarter (22 percent) of Americans who say an annual vacation is important to them are not confident that they’ll take a vacation, compared to nearly one in five (19 percent) in 2015, representing a Vacation Deficit increase of three points, the first increase since dropping five points between 2013 and 2015.
Americans are facing a Vacation Deficit for summer specific travel as well: one in three (34 percent) Americans are not confident that they’ll take a summer vacation this year, an increase in three points over 2015. Four in ten (43 percent) are confident (32 percent very/11 percent somewhat) that they’ll get a summer vacation this year, down from 46 percent last year, which was the highest figure recorded since 2010.
The Vacation Confidence Index has been conducted each summer since 2010 by national polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Allianz Global Assistance USA. A vacation is defined as a leisure trip of at least a week to a place that is 100 miles or more from home.
Allianz Global Assistance offers travel insurance* through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz Global Assistance and the policies offered for travelers, please visit: http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS.
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Methodology: These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Allianz from June 2 to 5, 2016. For the survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,007 randomly-selected adults residing in the U.S. was interviewed by random-digit dialing telephone via the ORC Caravan omnibus. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population of adults in the U.S. been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/gender composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Allianz Global Assistance USA
Allianz Global Assistance USA (AGA Service Company) is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company. We insure 21 million customers annually and are best known for our Allianz Travel Insurance plans. In addition to travel insurance, Allianz Global Assistance USA offers tuition insurance, event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for health insurers, property and casualty insurers, and credit card companies.
To learn more about Allianz Travel Insurance, please visit allianztravelinsurance.com or Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS.
* - Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your plan, carefully review your plan’s Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on state of residence. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are brands of AGA Service Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Non-insurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by AGA Service Company.
Media Contact: Daniel Durazo
804.673.7175
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