The Covid-19 pandemic has created new challenges and concerns for travelers. As a result, there is a significant change throughout the travel landscape, including a major shift in where US travelers are booking trips. Travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, breaks down where travelers are heading in 2021.
Countries that have remained open throughout the pandemic have seen a significant surge in travel. This includes countries that have never been among the most popular destinations for US travelers, such as Turks and Caicos and the US Virgin Islands.
Europe is no longer the top outbound travel market. Only about 8 per cent of Squaremouth sales so far in 2021 are for trips to Europe, compared to a historical rate above 30 per cent The percent of travelers buying insurance for domestic trips has nearly tripled to 30 per cent. The percentage of travelers going on Caribbean trips has surpassed 20 percent, nearly double the pre-pandemic rate
On the other hand, the percentage of travelers buying insurance for domestic trips and Caribbean trips has spiked. The US now comprises roughly 30 percent of sales through their website the most of any region, compared to about 11 percent before the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, domestic travel peaked around 57 percent. The share of travelers buying travel insurance for trips to Caribbean destinations now accounts for roughly 20% of policies purchased through Squaremouth.com this year.