Ocean Cruising after COVID-19

Goal: This research will explore consumers’ perceptions of risk and uncertainty about travel and future travel intentions following the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 with a particular emphasis on ocean cruise travel. The pandemic has caused global disruption to all forms of travel and tourism and severely impacted the ocean cruise industry. Many passengers acquired the disease while cruising and some have died. This research will focus on the Australian experience, seeking to compare and contrast Australian and UK travellers. It will also identify any differences in future travel and ocean cruise intentions and perceptions of risk between repeat cruisers and non- or future-cruisers. the research will also explore any relationships between risk perceptions and age, personality, country of residence, marital status, education, cruise history and brands sailed on. 9 risks were identified in the literature and the survey explores each; health, safety, financial, mechanical, time/convenience, social, psychological, environmental and performance/satisfaction risks.

In the first phase of the research, a survey was administered to over 600 respondents drawn from Pureprofile. Half the sample have previously cruised and be aged 40 years and over. Phase Two will be conducted in 2021.

The project under the direction of Winthrop Professor Dr. Tim Mazzarol and Emeritus Professor Dr. Geoff Soutar and team members are Dr. Suellen Tapsall, Dr. Wendy Elliott and Dr. Jennifer Holland. The project is funded by the University of Western Australia.