Drivers and barriers of travel behaviors during and post COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review and future agenda

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the drivers and barriers of travel behavior associated with tourist behavior during/post-COVID-19 pandemic to provide a knowledge base as well as an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe authors utilized the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) technique for searching the articles published in Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus, to identify the main drivers and barriers affecting the tourist behavior during/post-COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, 47 articles were chosen for the final analysis.FindingsThe findings are reported in three sections, (1) quantitative research profile, (2) qualitative synthesis and (3) future agenda. This study addresses the nuanced questions regarding the significant change in tourist travel behavior, emotional dynamics and a detailed understanding of mechanisms, such as which drivers and barriers affect tourist behavior in a particular destination. Drivers and barriers to tourist travel behavior were characterized in personal-related, destination-related, and health-related factors. Moreover, this study provides thought-provoking ideas in theory, policy and practice in the field of tourism and hospitality.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has three limitations, as follows. First, the authors searched only two databases, Scopus and Web of Science, due to which the authors might be missing some related studies existing on the other databases. Although these databases provide an extensive range of academic literature, further studies could extend the data collection from the other databases (e.g. via Taylor & Francis). However, our systematic literature review (SLR) coverage is quite extensive, since journals are listed on these three main databases. Second, the authors followed a main study search protocol based on the synonyms and related keywords, however, some of the studies that may be related to the tourist behavior towards the destination are missing on account of the lack of our keywords in there, title, author, keyword and abstract. Furthermore, future research could endeavor to add other keywords to expand the results of studies. Third, although the accurate analysis was conducted to reduce subjectivity in identifying themes for drivers and barriers of tourist behavior, future studies on categorization could work to ensure that other sub-themes categorize.Practical implicationsThe recent study has some key practical implications. First, this study is valuable for all the stakeholders in a unique way, including destination managers, academicians and policymakers, because it provides insight into barriers and drivers that influence the development of tourist behavior towards the destination. Second, the current study also offers practical implications for people involved in tourism service industries including governments and private businesses. Policymakers and other leaders are increasingly interested in harnessing the economic potential of tourism. Therefore, identifying the barrier which is inhibiting the tourist traffic towards the destination is beneficial to understand and effectively develop strategies to minimize the effect of such factors. Moreover, drivers and barriers of tourist behavior towards the destination in the COVID-19 pandemic situation towards the destination may help to create a framework for the development of destinations according to the current vulnerable situation. Third, current findings suggest that tourism marketers understand the drivers and barrier constructs found in this study and tailor their marketing strategies for attracting existing and new tourists. For instance, marketers should understand the drivers and barriers of tourist behavior for effective strategy development to increase the positive effect of drivers and to reduce the negative effect of barriers.Originality/valueThis is the first systematic literature review on the impact of drivers and barriers of tourist travel behavior. This paper analyses the methods and approaches that have been used in the previous literature to examine the drivers and barriers of tourist travel behavior. The paper ends with the research implication and limitations of the studies.

Impact of Post-Covid-19 on driver behaviour: A perspective towards pandemic-sustained transportation

“…Based on the authors' knowledge search, there was only systematic review article found in the database, focusing on the impact of Post-Covid-19 pandemic on driver behaviour focused on driver's personality and personal barriers ( Ahmad et al, 2022 ). In general, the paper discussed the changes in driver's personality trait towards travel experience and attitude, contagion impact of Covid-19, socio-psychological and financial impact during lockdown.…”

Factors influencing university students in conducting ecotourism

“…While the objectives of the present study did not include other determinants of individual attitudes and behaviors, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has generated attitudinal and behavioral changes of all kinds in relation to tourism (Ahmad et al, 2022). For example, recent studies have shown that certain personality types are more likely to engage in local ecotourism, which is more popular these days (Isaac and Keijzer, 2021).…”

Characteristics of business, pleasure, and VFR segments who travel during risky times

“…Although several studies addressed consumers’ travel motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic (Aebli et al , 2022; Kusumaningrum and Wachyuni, 2020; Lin and Zhang, 2021; Ozbilen et al , 2021), there is a lack of empirical research comparing the characteristics of travelers based on their travel purposes – business, pleasure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR), as well as their sociodemographics, personality traits and expected and perceived well-being benefits from traveling. Furthermore, while the majority of the empirical research addressed post-COVID-19 travel behavior (Ahmad et al , 2022; Miao et al , 2021; Oestreich et al , 2023; Şengel et al , 2023), very few studies tackled consumers’ travel behavior and psychological impact during the early stages of the pandemic (Lenggogeni et al , 2022; Neuburger and Egger, 2021; Zenker and Kock, 2020). As summarized in Figure 1, the current study fills this void by comparing travelers based on their travel purposes (business, pleasure and VFR) and exploring the influence of subjective well-being received from traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic on satisfaction from the trip and future intention to take similar pleasure, business and VFR trips.…”