The impact of COVID-19 on Cypriots’ travel behavior: An examination of the attitudes and habits of Cypriots towards travelling abroad and, what changes will emerge in their travelling habits in the aftermath of the pandemic

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 around the globe has negatively influenced many sectors of the economy, especially the tourism industry. Due to this virus threat, with large-scale travel restrictions, travelers have inevitably altered their travel behavior leading to a drop in travel demand. Being a highly vulnerable industry to numerous risks, tourism has become resilient in bouncing back from crises. However, the nature of COVID-19, which confirms the role of international travel in spreading infections, depict signs that this crisis is more disastrous. The current study, through the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire to 234 Cypriots, aims to capture the impact of COVID-19 on Cypriots’ travel behavior by examining their attitudes towards travelling and, present the changes that emerge in their travelling habits in the aftermath
of the pandemic in terms of six variables. Through the analysis of the data on SPSS software by applying the regression model to investigate six hypotheses, the results reveal that this pandemic has altered Cypriot travelers’ behavior. Respondents now put more emphasis on personal safety and hygiene, requiring more information regarding their destination and the healthcare standards at destination. They are willing to cancel or postpone their trip abroad in cases of extreme outbreak and avoid popular destinations and travelling during peak seasons. They allocate less money to
their post-COVID-19 journeys and prefer destinations with a high percentage of vaccinations and to be vaccinated themselves before travelling. Interestingly, having children or close friends or relatives in sensitive groups does not prevent them for travelling and, Cypriot travelers do not only choose destinations close to Cyprus. Eventually, the findings of this study provide future research insights in the tourism sector and help tourism officials to adapt their operations in response to travelers’ behavior and perceptions and, make the necessary adjustments in order to re-gain their
trust and confidence and, return to normal in the post-COVID-19 recovery period.