Understanding factors affecting travel avoidance behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a mixed method approach

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Agag, G. ORCID: 0000-0002-5513-0828, Abdelmoety, Z. and Eid, R., 2023. Understanding factors affecting travel avoidance behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a mixed method approach. Journal of Travel Research. ISSN 0047-2875 (Forthcoming)

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Abstract

Pandemics are affecting tourism in many ways, and have had a major effect on international travel, the hospitality industry and tourism demand. Grounded in the protective action decision model and complexity theory, this study seeks to develop a model to explain the conditions that have led to travel avoidance in the UK in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. To test our proposed model, we used a fuzzyset qualitative comparative analysis of data gathered from 1,290 travellers, with semi-structured interviews conducted to confirm the configurations identified by the model. The findings indicate that effective pandemic information, effective risk communication, supplies, trust in government and trust in the media are necessary to combat travel avoidance, but the refutation of rumour and trust among travellers, while sufficient, is not necessary. Furthermore, qualitative follow-up interviews were conducted to obtain deeper insights into the discovered configurations and develop effective pathways to travel avoidance.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of Travel Research

Creators:

Agag, G., Abdelmoety, Z. and Eid, R.

Publisher:

SAGE Publications

Date:

23 May 2023

ISSN:

0047-2875