Some 36 per cent people want to travel for business purposes while some 31 per cent for leisure and 34 per cent for family purposes during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an online survey.
Among regular travellers in the domestic sectors, about 33 per cent have already undertaken travel while another 41.6 per cent consider travelling in next three months. However, 25.5 per cent of respondents would not take a travel within this year, it said.
When it comes to international travel, some 53.5 per cent of the respondents will travel for only holiday purposes at this moment, while 29.4 per cent for business and 17.1 per cent for medical purposes.
Over 47 per cent of respondents said they will not plan a trip unless an effective vaccine is found while 43.3 per cent may travel in next three months. About 10 per cent have already made a travel.
The Bangladesh Monitor, a travel and tourism fortnightly magazine, conducted the online survey recently. Monitor editor Kazi Wahidul Alam presented the survey results virtually on Wednesday.
As many as 3,452 travellers took part in the online survey between September 1 and 25, of whom 26 per cent belong to 20-30 age group, 22 per cent to 31-40 age group, 20 per cent to 41-50 age group, 18 per cent to 51-60 age group and the rest are over 60 years.
About 87 per cent of respondents are from business profession, 10 per cent are service holders and 3.0 per cent are students.
The survey found that 59.7 per cent holidaymakers prefer to make their dream holidays in the countries of Asia in a post-Covid situation, while 32.1 per cent in Europe and 8.2 per cent in Americas. India has been considered as the preferred medical destination for 39.6 per cent respondents, followed by Thailand (31.7 per cent) and Singapore (28.7 per cent).
Restoration of passengers' confidence is the biggest challenge for the airlines at the moment as felt by 37.7 per cent travellers, while 33.5 per cent feel it is health and hygiene issue and 28.8 per cent think it is travel restrictions which are now in place.
The survey also found that air travel is considered as the safest mode of transportation in the country amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. About 67 per cent respondents feel that air travel is the safest, while 23.3 per cent opted for rail and 10 per cent surface movement.
About 50 per cent respondents feel that high cost is the biggest concern of air travel in Bangladesh at this moment, while 31.4 per cent consider personal safety and 18.7 per cent consider protocols at the airports are major concerns, it shows.
