Travel Sales Will Remain Strong Despite Anxiety in 2018
by Richard D'Ambrosio /
After a year filled with anxiety from super storms, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, travel should remain strong in 2018, as travelers continue to manage their anxiety.
In 2017, 47 percent more travelers bought travel insurance specifically to be refunded if weather or a natural disaster ruins their trip, said Squaremouth, the travel insurance comparison site, which predicts that natural disasters will be travelers’ top concern in the coming year.
In fact, the company said, 2018 is predicted to be the year fear of natural disasters will overtake terrorism as the top cancellation concern.
An additional factor creating anxiety is continuing international unrest, causing more U.S. residents to travel within North America, Squaremouth said, predicting that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will be 3 of the 4 most popular destinations for U.S. travelers in 2018, The company predicts that Italy will be the third most popular destination, the spot it has held since 2012
Despite the uncertainty, Squaremouth predicts that in 2018, the average trip cost will surpass $6,000 for the first time. The average cost of a trip insured on squaremouth.com has increased every year since 2012, peaking at $5,854 in 2017.