Supporting Tourism by Assessing the Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination for Travel Reasons

Cezar Morar, Alexandru Tiba, Tamara Jovanovic, Aleksandar Valjarević, Matthias Ripp, Miroslav D. Vujičić, Uglješa Stankov, Biljana Basarin, Rade Ratković, Maria Popović, Gyula Nagy, Lajos Boros and Tin Lukić
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Cezar Morar: Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Alexandru Tiba: Department of Psychology, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Tamara Jovanovic: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Aleksandar Valjarević: Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Matthias Ripp: Organisation of World Heritage Cities, 93047 Regensburg, Germany
Miroslav D. Vujičić: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Uglješa Stankov: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Biljana Basarin: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Rade Ratković: Faculty for Business in Tourism, 85310 Budva, Montenegro
Maria Popović: Faculty for Business in Tourism, 85310 Budva, Montenegro
Gyula Nagy: Department of Economic and Social Geography, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Lajos Boros: Department of Economic and Social Geography, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Tin Lukić: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: The persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus imposed vaccination passports for traveling in most countries. We investigated psychological factors that predict the intention to vaccinate for travel. In a cross-sectional study, we examined how demographic variables, vaccination status, perceived risk of infection and severity of disease contracted at travel destination, safety and effectiveness of vaccines against contracting COVID-19 during travel, and conspiracy beliefs are related to intention to vaccinate for travel. Further analyses involved differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in a Romanian sample regarding conspiracy beliefs, attitudes about vaccines, and self-efficacy of controlling COVID-19 infection. Results showed that the intention to vaccinate for travel reasons is best predicted by vaccination status and perceptions of safety and efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19. Thus, vaccinated individuals believing that vaccines are safe and effective most probably will take another vaccine booster if it will allow them to travel. Positive relationships of the intention to vaccinate for travel reasons were found with age, vaccination status, conspiracy beliefs, perceptions of safety and effectiveness of vaccines, intention to travel, and a more cautious approach to travel. No significant relationships were found between perceptions of risk for self or for transmitting the disease to others, severity of disease, and the intention to vaccinate for travel. We also found significant differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated participants, as unvaccinated participants showed higher levels of conspiracy beliefs and less trust in the safety and efficacy of vaccines. We conclude that campaigns focused on promoting information on the safety and efficacy of vaccines is the most important direction for promoting vaccination in young travelers.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; perceived risk; safety of vaccines; conspiracy beliefs; intention to vaccinate; travel; tourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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