News
Eruption disruption

April 23, 2010, Vancouver – In a snapshot poll taken on April 20th and 21st, Ipsos Reid’s travel
and tourism division found that most Canadians have not been directly
impacted by the volcanic eruptions in Iceland and that only a small
proportion of Canadians will have their upcoming travel plans affected
if the volcano continues to be active.

One-in-six (16%) Canadians personally know someone who is stuck in
Europe and cannot get home. Among those who know someone stuck in
Europe, the person who is stuck is most likely to be a friend (33%),
family member (32%), an acquaintance (30%) or a work colleague (19%).
The amount of time that people have been stuck in Europe is most likely
to be either a few days (43%) or almost a week (45%).

Dave Pierzchala, Vice President of Ipsos’ travel team explains,
“These results indicate that the eruptions have made for trying times
for not only those stuck in Europe, but also for the one-in-six
Canadians who are awaiting the safe return of friends and loved ones”.

4% of Canadians plan to travel to Europe in the next month and
nearly two-thirds (62%) of those prospective travellers are concerned
that their upcoming flight will be postponed or cancelled.
Additionally, the eruptions have caused 6% of Canadians to rethink the
viability of flying to or through Europe in the next year.

Dave Pierzchala, Vice President of Ipsos’ travel team explains, “The
present situation has both airlines and travellers concerned for the
longer-term implications for European travel. If the volcano flares up
again in the near future, travellers will be forced to re-examine their
options in respect to European-based flights.”

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid online poll conducted
from April 20, 2010 to April 21, 2010 with 605 Canadian adults (18+).
Weighting was employed to balance demographics and ensure that the
sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to
Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample
universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size
and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-
4.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would
have been had the entire population of adults polled. All sample
surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including,
but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.