According to a study by Allianz Global Assistance, about 86 percent of Americans say they are concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack while traveling. The regions that generate the most concern are the Middle East and Europe. In the wake of recent attacks in Europe, roughly 22 percent of Americans report that those events have affected their upcoming travel plans.
Many travelers who changed plans did so by canceling trips entirely, while others adjusted destinations, shifted travel dates, chose different modes of transportation, or selected alternative accommodations. A small portion of respondents bought additional travel insurance as a precaution.
When avoiding perceived terrorist threats, many Americans are opting to travel within the United States or Canada instead of traveling to higher-risk regions. Travelers planning trips to Europe were the most likely to pick a new destination in response to recent events.
Fear of terrorism differs by generation and whether travel is domestic or international. For international travel, baby boomers and Generation X members report greater fear of attacks than millennials. For domestic travel, the pattern reverses: 57 percent of millennials say they worry about a terrorist attack in the United States, while older generations tend not to see domestic terrorism as a major concern.
Despite these worries, travel to Europe rose by 10 percent over the summer, with more than 500,000 U.S. travelers visiting the continent. This increase suggests many Americans continue to pursue international travel even amid safety concerns.
“What we’re seeing is that the American traveler is a complex demographic that shares common fears and concerns, but deviates greatly on where they find those fears and how they face them. But we’re pleased to see that whatever those differences are, one thing that remains consistent is that they are finding ways to follow their passion of seeing the world despite the challenges that come with traveling in a time of terror,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications for Allianz Global Assistance USA.