Nearly half of Canadians want a jab before they’re willing to take a stab at travelling beyond our borders, according to new survey results from the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA).

Conducted in October, the 2020 Smart Traveller Survey of over 1,000 Canadians found that 80% of respondents plan to travel in 2021, but that only 53% will begin making cross-border travel plans when a COVID-19 vaccine is available.

Results found that barring a vaccine, 74% of respondents also would also require carriers, from airlines to trains, to block off seating or operate below maximum capacity to allow for physical distancing before they feel comfortable booking any travel.

Meanwhile, 62% of Canadians also want assurances from their travel health insurance providers that they have appropriate coverage should they or their travel companions’ contract COVID-19 while on vacation.

“The travel health insurance industry evolved dramatically at the pandemic’s outset when March Break travel was interrupted. Support centres became the only resource for travellers scrambling to return,” says THIA executive director Will McAleer.

“The travel insurance industry is responding to consumers’ needs for assurances and a growing number of our members are offering specialized COVID-19 coverage, either within or as a rider to their policies. Many companies are waiting for the Canadian government to reduce the level three travel advisory before offering new insurance products.”

While the 29% of survey respondents are currently willing to travel outside of Canada, their biggest concern includes questions around returning safely. Moreover, of those who said they plan to travel in 2021, 25% said that they would answer untruthfully to COVID-19 screening questions in order to board their flight home.

Founded in 1998, the THIA is the national organization representing travel insurers, brokers, underwriters, re-insurers, emergency assistance companies, air ambulance companies and allied services in the travel insurance field.