The COVID-19 impact on travel insurance

More than ever, travelers see the benefits of carrying travel insurance, creating new market trends to watch in 2021.

A new survey conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) found that 56% of consumers expect to travel for vacation this year. (Photo: SFIO CRACHO/Shutterstock)

After a year of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, Americans are optimistic about travel possibilities in 2021, according to a new study by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

Fifty-six percent of survey respondents indicated that they are likely to travel for vacation this year, which is a notable increase from the past year when only 21% of survey takers reporting traveling for vacation or leisure since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the findings represent a significant decline in travel pre-pandemic, when approximately 70% of Americans took a vacation in any given year, according to OmniTrak (TNS) data.

As the U.S. ramps up vaccines rollout, a return to “normal” is within sight. Recently, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted on NBC’s ”Today” show that April will be “open season” for vaccinations in the U.S., and any adult will be able to get vaccinated, just in time for the height of summer travel season.

Travel insurance trends to watch in 2021

COVID-19 created a surge in demand for travel insurance. Now more than ever, travelers see the benefits of carrying the coverage, which is creating new trends in the market. In a January 2021 article, Forbes Editor Jason Metz named four emerging trends in travel insurance for 2021, including:

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