Conducted by the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV) and the University of Coimbra (UC), and based on data collected in the last three months, the study shows that the pandemic had “a strong impact” on the perception of security of the Portuguese regarding travelling both at home and abroad.

"National residents agree that safety is a key factor in travelling and is even the most important attribute for choosing a destination, in global terms, but it is even more crucial when considering international travel", concludes the study.

The responses (more than a thousand considered valid) obtained through an ‘online’ questionnaire show that the Portuguese consider “travel for holidays, work trips, family trips or visits by friends and family within the country to be risky”.

"These responses are even more expressive for the same trips abroad", underline the study's authors, adding that the Portuguese "consider that additional security measures at airports make travel safer at home and abroad".

Safety is considered one of the most important aspects to travel in all generations, the oldest being the one that reveals “a perception of higher travel risk”, both in national and international destinations.

This study, which covered the period between 2 February and 2 May, is the first to analyze the effects of the pandemic on the perception of safety to travel and to practice leisure and tourism activities, as well as the fear and concern related to contagion and measures taken in Portugal.

The team - made up of Carla Silva, José Luís Abrantes, Manuel Reis and Odete Paiva, from IPV, and Cláudia Seabra, from UC - tried to perceive the change of opinion over time.

“The fear of travelling by national residents increased progressively, with each period studied, as well as the fear of contagion in personal and family terms”, concludes the team, adding that, during the third State of Emergency, “the Portuguese felt, however, it to be less risky to travel, especially within the country”.

“At the same time, the importance attached to security has been increasing, reaching the highest values ??in the last period, especially for international travel”, he adds.

If, at the beginning of the investigation, "travelling with the family was considered safe or very safe, especially in Portugal", thisperception "has decreased dramatically over time, having also narrowed the difference between doing so in Portugal or abroad".

The study also indicates that, due to the new coronavirus, those who reside in Portugal feel very insecure to practice leisure and tourism activities.

"The highlight is going to casinos or nightlife venues, which 80 percent of respondents indicate as very unsafe activities".

Between 60 percent and 80 percent of respondents also classify visits to theme parks, galleries, museums and monuments, urban centres and historic centres, participation in concerts, festivals, sports or religious events, the practice of sports in closed spaces as very unsafe, meals in restaurants, accommodation in hotels, participation in tourist visits and shopping in shopping centres and markets.

“Going to beaches, rivers and lakes, on the other hand, is a less unsafe activity, according to the participants in the study. Going to nature parks, walking routes and practicing nature sports are the only activities considered relatively safe by the Portuguese in the context of the pandemic”, he says.

With regard to fear and concern about contagion, the study shows that “85 percent of respondents feel that citizens and tourists may be victims of contagion and that this fear applies to themselves and their families”.

"Despite this concern, the nervousness shown is moderate, also mentioning that they feel little or no need for additional information on protective measures in relation to covid-19", he adds.

Half of the people who answered the questionnaire admitted "to change various aspects of their lives and daily routines because of the disease, but with regard to vacation and travel plans the percentage rises to 65 percent".

The fears "are more pronounced in the older generation, with the generation between the ageof 40 and 65 feeling a greater need for additional information to protect themselves from contagion than the younger generations".

This study, which involves the Centre for Research in Digital Services of the IPV and the Centre for the Study of Geography and Spatial Planning of the UC, is still ongoing and will allow, in the future, to assess the impacts of the covid-19 not only in Portugal, but also in other regions of the world.