The Effect of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Travel Risk Perception

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused risks and uncertainties within the tourism industry as in all industries across the world. This study sets out to explore the risk and hygiene perceptions of domestic tourists in the pandemic setting. The population of the study is comprised of individuals who have participated in domestic tourism movements in Turkey. The research data were collected through surveys and online platforms. Descriptive statistics and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on data. Results suggested a four-factor structure in the travel risk perceptions of individuals regarding the pandemic, which were named safety and hygiene, future travel preferences, quality, and concern. According to the weighted average of factors, domestic tourists are mostly concerned about hygiene and safety and have concerns about the future.