Motivating or manipulating: the influence of health-protective behaviour and media engagement on post-COVID-19 travel

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) is a contagious global pandemic that has impacted tourism in 2020. Tourist behaviour and destination image are significantly influenced by the tourist’s perception of safety and risk. This research letter focuses on post-pandemic travel behaviour through an understanding of how mediating factors can change the relationship of destination perception and travel intentions post-crisis. Drawing from the Protection Motivation Theory model, it proposes an adapted model and provides new insights with the addition of mediating roles of tourist health-protective behaviour and media engagement in influencing tourists’ post-COVID-19 travel.