LONDON - Skyscanner has released new research which reveals that UK travellers are open to carrying digital health information if it allows them to travel internationally.
The new research, conducted by Skyscanner and OnePoll also shed light on traveller perception about the role vaccines will play in enabling future travel:
- When asked what would give travellers the confidence to take an international trip, being vaccinated ranked highest (59%)
- Over a third of participants (35%) would be more confident about travel if the destination or place they planned to visit required all travellers and/or guests to be vaccinated
- One in three participants (34%) stated they’d feel more confident about travel if their airline had a health pass scheme in place, requiring passengers to prove they meet negative testing requirements*
The findings come as pent-up demand shows intent to start planning travel again. Following the latest announcement from government about the roadmap out of lockdown, including earliest possible timings for reinstating international travel, Skyscanner saw a surge in bookings of over 69% the day after the Prime Minister's address on Monday 22nd February.**
Hugh Aitken, VP Flights at Skyscanner comments: “With vaccine roll outs and news of a roadmap out of lockdown renewing international travel hopes, the question now is how we return to travel safely, once it’s possible to do so again. Whilst it’s too early to say whether digital health passes will become the global norm, some airlines and providers have already started to introduce apps which allow travellers to upload and store their COVID-19 test results. Since the beginning of the pandemic, travellers have shown they are willing to react and adapt to changing requirements in order to be able to travel safely. Contactless technology, like digital health passes, which promotes safety first, is clearly something travellers would be ready to embrace.
“Whilst more needs to be done to build a common understanding for consumers around what health passes are and how they work, these findings show that we can expect travellers to approach new health and safety measures for air travel much the same way as they have in the past, adjusting to any reasonable requirements that make easy, safe, seamless travel possible.”
*Skyscanner and OnePoll surveyed 2000 UK respondents respectively (aged +18) between 20th – 23rd February 2021. The survey was conducted online via the OnePoll website, polling panel members who are paid to participate in surveys.
**based on % increase in redirects on Skyscanner platforms on 23rd February vs 22nd February