CAA-Quebec’s travel plans survey shows vacationers aren’t ready to jump right in

CAA-Quebec’s traditional annual vacation plans survey (1) revealed that only 1 out of every 2 Quebecers (50%) intend to take a vacation this summer—a sharp drop from last year (74%) and years past. Clearly uncertainty around COVID-19 is a major factor, prompting vacationers to proceed with caution.

The survey showed that Quebecers plan to take their vacations later, stick closer to home, drive more, and spend less. Not surprisingly, many more Quebecers (8 out of 10, or 77%) plan to stay in Quebec this summer versus last year (59%). A mere 11% expect to travel outside Quebec by October—a significant drop, comparatively.

• 50% of survey respondents plan to take a vacation (74% in 2019).
• 46% of vacationers intend to travel within Quebec (44% in 2019).
• 31% of vacationers are planning a staycation (15% in 2019).
• Very few vacationers expect to travel elsewhere in Canada (5%), to the U.S. (2%), or to an international destination (4%)—a marked decline across the board.

Quebec: The place to be this summer

It looks like Quebec is this year’s hot summer destination for Quebecers. With 85% of respondents planning to travel by car or RV (versus 73% last year), there will be a lot of people out there on the road.

– Philippe Blain, Vice President of Travel Services, CAA-Quebec

Cruise lines and airlines are unveiling strict health protocols and tempting travellers with great deals and relaxed cancellation policies. While it’s a good idea to go ahead and plan your next trip, you may want to wait to book. Insurers don’t cover risks related to COVID-19 as long as the government advisory to avoid non-essential travel outside Canada is still in effect.

COVID-19 is putting a serious damper on vacation plans

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Quebecers’ vacation plans and is prompting many to err on the side of caution. At the time the survey was conducted in late May:

• 6 out of 10 vacationers (62%) planned to take their vacation in August or even September (versus 53% last year).
• 1 out of 5 Quebecers (20%, versus 12% last year) had not decided if they were going to take a vacation. Among those planning to, many didn’t know when (11%) or where (10%).
• Almost 1 in 4 (23%) had cancelled or postponed a summer vacation already in the works.
• Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) had already planned a summer trip but didn’t know if they’d still be able to go.
• One-third of Quebecers (30%) had no summer vacation plans, versus 14% in 2019.
• 1 in 5 (19%) said they could no longer afford a vacation.

It looks like travellers will be erring on the side of caution in making their future travel plans. For instance, 80% of respondents said they plan to avoid more popular destinations, even 6 months after the borders reopen (more on that later).

Home for the holidays

Another thing to chalk up to coronavirus uncertainty: More than a third of respondents (twice as many as last year) have given up travelling this summer and are opting for a staycation. It’s no surprise then that a quarter of respondents (26%) plan to spend their vacation budget on something else (details to come). With so many people staying home, it’s safe to say that home improvement will be more popular than ever this summer. For weeks our Residential Advisory Services experts have been fielding a record number of requests for swimming pools, heat pumps, and other home renovation projects.

COVID-19 changes the look of leisure time

The coronavirus is also having an impact on what types of things people do on vacation.

What’s in: Visiting friends and family, hiking, road trips, renovations, biking, and camping

What’s out: Cultural and sporting events, beach, shopping, family events, cruises

About CAA-Québec

CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services.

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^{(1) This online survey of 1,000 respondents representing the Quebec population was conducted for CAA-Quebec by the Leger firm May 19–23, 2020.}