Abstract
In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the international tourist arrivals worldwide have been brought to pre-1990s levels, the travel and hospitality industry being one of the most affected industries during the pandemic. Multiple factors created difficulties in planning trips, decreasing travel demand. This paper investigates the determinants of the individual decision to travel less during 2020 and 2021, through a quantitative analysis of 224 survey answers collected from a convenience sample of people living in and outside Europe. The results show that the unease generated by the travel restrictions and scheduling when considering flights and accommodations had the highest impact on travel. Moreover, being older, and the fear of getting infected as a result of the trip increased the likelihood of travelling less. The respondents manifest travel-related anxiety and a preference for prudent trips (domestic, familiar, or tailored). The gender, occupation, income, and continent were not found as predictors of the level of travel during the pandemic.
Authors: Isabelle Biclesanu, Sorin Anagnoste, Iulia Sulea
