Psychological Determinants of Travel Intention in the Post-Pandemic Era: Evidence from Malaysian Medical Students

Despite a substantial volume of literature on the consequences of the recent pandemic, the relationship between psychological constructs that affect individual mindset and confidence, as well as travel intention, is missing. This study seeks to examine the travelers’ behavioral intentions and psychological constructs. The study was conducted among 398 Malaysian medical students. The study was conducted from the end of 2022 to the middle of 2023. The study followed PLS-SEM to estimate relationships between variables and predict dependent variables. The results revealed a negative correlation between travel risk, severity, travel barriers, and travel intention, while COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness and self-efficacy positively influenced travel intention. The present study reveals that individuals with higher levels of self-efficacy or confidence in overcoming obstacles and coping with the challenges of new circumstances exhibit a stronger intention to travel (ITT). This study contributes to understanding the cognitive process of individuals’ intentions to travel and the coping mechanisms during the post-pandemic. Utilizing the health belief model, this study validates how individual health behavior regarding perceived risk affects travel decisions or intentions. This study provides valuable insight into consumer behavior for decision-making in the aviation and tourism industries and for policymakers after the global health crisis.