Travel Safety as Psychological Motivator for Air Transportation

Abstract

This paper discusses the concept of safety and its relation to travel at a basic psychological level, and explores its relation to the motivation to or fear of travel, with special emphasis on flying anxiety for air transportation. The increasing prevalence of international travel and its impact on global socio-politics and economics is emphasized, along with how air transportation plays the dominant role in this context. It is pointed out that, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, safety is a psychological need that supercedes all needs except the basic physiological needs of food and water. However, the travel industry currently treats comfort, convenience, economy, exotic destination, peer esteem, etc, as primary travel motivators or inhibitors. It is thus suggested that corporate or national travel profitability can be enhanced by proper treatment of general safety and fear of flying. A travel decision-planning algorithm for itinerary arrangement, especially for international self-planning travelers, is considered. Possibilities regarding travel safety and promotion are discussed. Finally, the perceptions and attitudes of the public in Taiwan toward air travel safety are investigated and analyzed via questionnaire.