Research shows travelers doing COVID research on destination, are attracted to small, local businesses

In a recent Harris Poll survey, nearly three quarters of Americans report that they are doing their homework about their chosen destination and the number of COVID cases for the destination before traveling. More than half say that if they had a vacation planned to an area with a surge in cases, they would either postpone the trip (29 percent) until it felt safe or cancel the trip (22 percent). Half of Americans feel that travel is safe for those fully vaccinated while 17 percent say it is unsafe for those vaccinated. Harris reports that outbreaks in destinations with low vaccination rates will continue to deter travelers and hurt local economies.
 
While the pandemic continues, small and medium-sized businesses that have survived so far are continuing to fight their way back, reports Harris Poll. The most recent research found that small businesses have learned resilience and are emerging stronger than ever. With thousands of small businesses across the country that rely on tourism and visitors, the connection between visitors and small business is strong. According to a recent Longwoods survey, travelers are attracted to small/local businesses because of unique environments, in order to support small business and to purchase local products.