75% opt-out of summer travel plans, citing inflation as key factor: HelloSafe

Out of nearly 100,000 respondents, HelloSafe, a financial comparison site, found that 74.6 per cent of respondents say their summer vacation plans do not include travel. And nearly 30 per cent say inflation is a key reason for the decision to stay home.

Travel agent Richard Vanderlubbe says although inflation does have an affect on hotel and food prices among others, he is still seeing a lot of Canadians interested in travel.

“We’re still seeing very strong demand. Maybe when you look at what we call the rubber tire market, where people are driving and going to attractions and shorter trips, there’s more of an impact,” he said. “But I am quite surprised to see that inflation itself would be the cause of people not travelling as much.”

Those who are travelling on Friday have mixed answers about how much expenses are affecting them.

READ MORE: Heat warning returns to the Hamilton, Halton, Niagara regions

“I think the Canadian prices are absolutely ridiculous, WestJet charges way too much, I think the last time I left Calgary, which was about a month and a half ago, one way was 800 bucks, that’s absurd.” said one traveller.

People that spoke to CHCH News say the cost of travelling has definitely affected their decision making when deciding whether to travel this summer, but others say it doesn’t matter. If they’re going to travel, they’re going to find a way.

Vanderlubbe says most people who want to travel will find a way to make it work.

“How bad do you want to go? How flexible are you with the dates,” he said. “If the purpose of the trip is really family, maybe push it out into a lower season. But if you are still looking for good weather and summer vacation, its kind of hard to avoid it because so many people want to travel and there’s so many air seats and hotel rooms available.”

HelloSafe says other reasons to avoid include lingering concerns over public health, and stay-cations options.

READ MORE: Ontario Liberals score two seats in byelections in Toronto, Ottawa