Most British Columbians ready for road trip when COVID restrictions lift: survey
Posted June 4, 2021 3:05 pm.
Last Updated June 4, 2021 6:46 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’re planning a road trip this summer, you’re definitely not alone. A new survey finds most British Columbians will be hitting the highway once pandemic restrictions are eased.
Sixty-five per cent of people in this province are planning to drive to a vacation destination this summer, according to the survey conducted for the Tire and Rubber Association.
Younger people are the most eager to hit the road, with 91 per cent of drivers 18 to 34 years old saying they’re planning a trip. The figure drops to 77 per cent among people aged 35 to 44.
But concerns around COVID-19 are still holding some people back from any potential travel, with 62 per cent of those not planning a trip citing COVID fears as the reason why. Another eight per cent say the pandemic has left them with financial hardships that mean they can’t afford a getaway.
Of all British Columbians surveyed, 63 per cent say pandemic restrictions have a “big influence” on their decision to take a road trip.
Related article: Timeline: B.C.’s restart plan
Right now, B.C. is divided into three travel zones: The Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Northern and Interior Health authorities combined. British Columbians are not allowed to travel between zones unless it’s for essential purposes.
When the province moves into Phase 2 of its four-part “restart plan,” the travel restrictions will be removed. The earliest that could happen is June 15.
