77% of Middle East, North Africa travellers willing to get Covid-19 vaccine, according to survey

CAPE TOWN, April 5 (ANA) – Seventy-seven percent of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) travellers are willing to get the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it is available in their country, according to a survey by online travel agency, Wego.

“The speed of rolling the vaccine in tourism destinations will have a crucial impact on people traveling again,” Wego’s managing director for MENA and India, Mamoun Hmedan said.

“As the authorities in the GCC region continue to go above and beyond and lead the vaccination drive, we believe more travellers will be reassured to travel in the coming months, as our recent survey reveals.”

According to the survey, released on Monday, 45 percent of travellers planned to travel within the next month.

Wego said the survey was done on thousands of travellers in MENA.

“Over the next few quarters, we expect tourists to prioritize destinations that have vaccinated most of their population and which have successfully managed through Covid-19,” Wego said in a statement.

Hmedan said that Covid-19 changed the behaviour of travellers saying that a majority were now opting for relaxation and wellness holidays in luxury and leisure destinations.

So far in 2021, there has been an increase in domestic activities and local adventures, Wego said.

According to the survey, 37 percent of people are planning to travel alone and 33 percent are planing a family getaway.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel