Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Tourism and Hotel Management Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 60-68)

ABSTRACT The outbreak of COVID-19 has been devastating to the industry, injurious to economy, and has negatively influenced the perception, motivation and travel destination choices of tourist. It has resulted to restrictions to borders and limitation to the choice options of tourist including increased risks perception. For order to tackle the problem caused by COVID-19, it is necessary to study and understand the aftermath of the novel on destination choices and motives of travelers. This study adopted a convenience sampling method for selecting its respondents both from first time travelers and returning travels. The aggregate number of information collected for the purpose of the study was obtained from 223 individual participants. The study used a Spearman's' correlation coefficient, Hierarchical regression and Sobel test in analyzing the data obtained. The result of our study indicated that H1 and H2 were found to be statistically significant and there is a significant correlation between the two-variables involved in each construct to imply the relationship is enough to influence tourist travel plans. Therefore, there is an optimum direct effect of covid-19 measures of tourist toward the motivations and choice of destination to choose for vacation or leisure. For H3, H4, and H5, there are very weak positive correlation between the variables but the models are not statistically significant.