Effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccination on travel intentions: case of Iran

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to examine tourists' behavioral changes in response to health crises, this study examines the individual's uncertainty and adaptability to the challenges using behavioral coping strategies. Design/methodology/approach – The study combines the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and protection motivation theory. Using the PLS-SEM technique, this study examines the relationship between the destination's competitive profits and travel intention of Iranian tourists in the post-Covid-19 pandemic. Findings – The social-support coping (Instrumental) does not incorporate tourists' adaptive behaviors. Vulnerable vaccination significantly affects the extremeness of an individual's problem-focused coping, which affects tourist's adaptive behaviors in crisis time, indicating the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccination on travel intention. Research limitations/implications – The findings may assist tourism authorities and planners develop unique tourism products and services based on tourist behavior following the health crises. Originality/value – This study contributes to development of the TPB method, indicating that visa exemption and competitive profits of a destination would motivate travel intention existing inefficacy of local government and its negative background, reshaping and thus influencing changing behavior.

Keywords

• Tourist behavior
• Post-covid-19 pandemic
• Theory of planned behavior
• Competitive profits
• Health crisis
• Iran