68% of Ontarians plan to travel this spring-summer: Survey

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Should I stay or should I go?

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According to a new study by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), nearly 70% of Ontarians intend to travel this spring and summer but 65% are still concerned about having their plans delayed or cancelled.

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The poll shows that 68% intend to travel within the province, 51% within Canada and 47% intend to go on an international trip.

The study also shows that 71% feel that travel is more complicated now than it was prior to the start of COVID-19 with 60% saying that being stranded from home is a concern.

The poll found 65% are concerned about protecting their travel investment and compared to pre-pandemic, 73% said they’re more likely to book travel plans with flexible rebooking and cancellation policies.

Another 78% expect to be fully refunded or offered similar travel if their original plans are cancelled for any reason, outside of them cancelling the trip.

When it comes to factors influencing travel decisions, Ontarians chose destination (86%), price (86%), accommodation (84%), travel experience (81%), mode of travel (76%), potential for extreme weather conditions (66%) and being eco-friendly (35%).

Another 59% said COVID safety and restrictions continue to influence their travel purchase decision, down from 81% in 2021.

The online survey was conducted by PMG Intelligence with 1,209 Ontario residents who lead or share travel decision making for their household between Jan. 20-23, 2023.