Travel intentions after COVID-19: A comparative assessment of tourist motivation and willingness to travel in Bulgaria and Azerbaijan

The research explores post-pandemic travel intentions, the availability of travel funds and accommodation preferences in Bulgaria and Azerbaijan – two countries with similar demographic and territorial characteristics but relatively different consumption patterns and tourist behaviour. In both countries, tourism forms a major part of the national economy and it has been hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal major differences between the responses received in these countries in terms of how respondents perceive the current phase of the pandemic, and of post-pandemic travel intentions. The study concludes that it will be difficult to implement a common strategy for a post-pandemic tourism recovery.