Americans Avoiding Winter Olympics Due to Fear and Costs

Geopolitical events and the cost of attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are the primary issues why Americans are not interested in being there in person.

According to a new survey conducted by Allianz Global Assistance, 74 percent of respondents said that if given the opportunity, they would not be interested in traveling to for the Olympics. The location is the key deterrent for 41.4 percent of Americans, while travel costs are the issue for 29.5 percent. Safety/health concerns (18.3 percent) were third.

The majority of Americans (62.9 percent) said nothing can be done to make them feel more comfortable in traveling to Pyeongchang. A small group of respondents (13.8 percent) said they could be made more comfortable by proof of increased security measures and a travel insurance policy (2.4 percent).

The Winter Olympics open Friday, February 9.