Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the changes in travel patterns and tourist behavior due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study realizes these changes and reports them to help restore tourism.Design/methodology/approachThis applied study used library sources and a survey conducted through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire incorporated data from previous studies and the most recent online databases. Items were exploratory factors analyzed using the principal component method and varimax rotation. The interpretation of the data collected was consistent with the attributes the questionnaire was designed to measure.FindingsThe research findings show that health and safety have come to the forefront of travelers' needs. The hygiene and disinfection of tourism facilities have changed from hygiene factors to motivator factors. The extended length of trips is perceived as a risk to their health; hence travelers prefer to take shorter trips. They also rather get help from professionals to book their trips.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was conducted only in Iran, where travel restrictions were periodically put on and removed. If this study could be conducted in countries with no domestic travel restrictions, other valuable findings such as changes in consumer spending and preferences toward travelling and safety could be found.Practical implicationsThis paper provides information on the latest changes to travel patterns and tourists' behavior which can be implied by DMOs (Destination Marketing Organization), governments and private tour operators to understand and consider travelers emerging needs.Originality/valueThis paper enables better planning and organization for the future and restart of tourism post-COVID-19.
Highlights
In mid-December 2019, a novel and infectious Coronavirus (COVID-19) struck Wuhan, the most populous city in central China (Yang et al, 2020)
The virus is similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that emerged in 2003; COVID-19 is an airborne illness that is highly transmittable between humans (Yang et al, 2020), which was found in wild animals that sparked a global pandemic (Liu and Saif, 2020; Yang et al, 2020)
The results show that accommodation facilities’ hygiene and disinfection are essential for tourists traveling during the COVID-19 outbreak
Summary
In mid-December 2019, a novel and infectious Coronavirus (COVID-19) struck Wuhan, the most populous city in central China (Yang et al, 2020). On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern (WHO, 2020a). The virus is similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that emerged in 2003; COVID-19 is an airborne illness that is highly transmittable between humans (Yang et al, 2020), which was found in wild animals that sparked a global pandemic (Liu and Saif, 2020; Yang et al, 2020). The tourism industry has long been recognized as one of the most vulnerable sectors to crises or disasters. In the last 15 years, many health-related crises, especially epidemics, have led to severe damage to the tourism industry at regional or international levels, such as SARS, Ebola and Foot
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