America's bloodiest day
U.S. travelers undeterred, poll finds

By Michele Kayal
Advertiser Staff Writer

Despite a wave of cancellations to Hawai'i and elsewhere since terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon on Tuesday, a new national survey says that most Americans intend to keep their travel plans.

Nearly two-thirds of both business and leisure travelers said they will not be deterred by the attacks in New York and Washington, according to a survey of 800 adults conducted yesterday and the day before by travel marketing firm Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown.

Sixty-seven percent of business travelers and 63 percent of leisure travelers said the terrorist acts will not influence their future travel plans.

About 40 percent of business travelers and 35 percent of leisure travelers said they do plan to cancel domestic trips.

But international destinations and the airlines are likely to feel a greater impact: 52 percent of business travelers and 60 percent of vacationers said they will take fewer international trips; 55 percent of business travelers and nearly 70 percent of leisure travelers said they will drive rather than fly whenever possible.

As of yesterday, the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau is reporting that more than two dozen business groups and 350 leisure travelers have canceled plans to come to Hawai'i in the next two months.

Tourism executives say they expect those figures to rise over the next two weeks.

Michele Kayal can be reached at mkayal@honoluluadvertiser.com.