Jul 2, 2020   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Americans look forward to safe, stay-at-home July 4 celebration

NEW YORK, July 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- America's birthday will look very different this year - with more than 60% of us staying home and avoiding gatherings with others. That's the finding of new Harris Poll data released today as the country heads into the holiday weekend.

While citizens remain divided on issues of race, politics and culture, we are united as ever on the importance of celebrating American history and freedom:

    --  "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" is still alive in America:
        When asked about the relevance of this section of the Declaration of
        Independence, 69% agree that the historical sentiment is alive today,
        including 75% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats.

    --  Americans say the Fourth is "important": In an age of rising tensions,
        78% of adults consider the Fourth of July to be an important holiday to
        them, their family and the community. When asked to identify the root of
        the holiday's importance, the top reasons are "celebrating our history"
        (60%), being "grateful to live in America" (54%) and "an opportunity to
        have some fun" (49%).

    --  Americans need some optimism: Desperate for a reprieve, 59% of Americans
        said they were "very" or "somewhat" excited for the Fourth of July this
        year. Asked why they're excited: 54% say they like watching fireworks -
        even though most will do so only on TV - and 51% say "we need something
        to look forward to right now."

    --  Most won't be gathering with others: Just 39% said they would be
        attending or hosting a social event or gathering for the holiday - and
        most of them in homes - while 61% will avoid gatherings altogether due
        to concerns about COVID-19. A full 25% said they had "no plans" for
        celebrating.

    --  Most of us will follow safety protocols: Two-thirds (66%) of Americans
        say they feel safe celebrating the Fourth of July this year - with
        younger generations (68% Gen Z/Millennial and 72% Gen X versus 60%
        Boomers, 61% Seniors) feeling the safest. Nearly all (94%) of those
        attending social gatherings say they will follow at least some COVID-19
        safety protocols this weekend.

"Though celebrations will look quite different, Americans are looking forward to a weekend of happiness and a short reprieve from the weight of the pandemic and social unrest," said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. "This weekend also has us thinking more than ever about summer vacations - and road trips seem to be on everyone's mind."

Could this be the summer of the "Great American Road Trip"? Americans think road trips are the safest way to travel right now.

    --  Road trips rule: Two-thirds of Americans (67%) say that, because of
        COVID-19, they'll be taking more road trips. The latest Harris Poll
        research also finds summer travel plans are picking up, with nearly a
        third (29%) of Americans say they will travel in the next four months.

    --  Hotels over house sharing: Americans say hotels are safer than an
        Airbnb. More than three in five Americans (65%) say that, in terms of
        sanitation practices, they think that staying at a hotel is a safer
        option than staying at an Airbnb or other vacation rental. Americans
        also indicate they are more comfortable at a hotel (55%) than at an
        Airbnb or other vacation rentals (42%).

    --  Safety is important: Overall, Americans believe that "hotels have
        implemented enough new cleaning procedures to protect against the virus"
        (61%) and that "hotels have done enough to reassure me that staying at a
        hotel will be safe" (60%).

The Harris Poll research was fielded June 26-29 across a representative sample of Americans. More information is available at this link.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Learn more by visiting www.harrispoll.com and follow Harris Poll on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americans-look-forward-to-safe-stay-at-home-july-4-celebration-301087675.html

SOURCE The Harris Poll