In a new study from Washington State University, researchers found traveling can be a powerful motivator in people’s decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
People with a strong desire to travel are less likely to express concern about the vaccine’s potential side effects or long-term complications and more likely to say they would get vaccinated.
Many people consider travel an essential part of their lifestyle and a contributor to their sense of well-being.
They’ll weigh the value of travel experiences they might miss by not being vaccinated against the vaccines’ possible risks.
The findings of travel desire were part of the study’s larger look at how messaging influences people’s intentions related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers surveyed 1,021 U.S. residents who rated their travel desire on a five-point scale.
In the survey, the team found that emotional, loss-based appeals were most persuasive in changing people’s intent to get vaccinated.
Survey respondents with the highest travel desire also had the highest COVID-19 vaccination intentions, the study found.
Some popular tourism destinations, such as the European Union, require a digital COVID certificate for unrestricted travel that verifies vaccination status, a negative COVID test, or recovery from the illness.
However, the findings of travel desire and vaccination intention were true even for people who didn’t have upcoming vacations plans or business trips.
The current study’s findings could aid the travel and tourism industry’s economic recovery.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about new drug that could prevent COVID-19, and two paths toward ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about antibodies that can neutralize Omicron, and results showing this drug treatment may prevent COVID death and lung damage.
The study is published in Tourism Management and was conducted by Dogan Gursoy et al.
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