Interventions for behavioural changes under travel hindrances: Information provision and economic compensation in pandemic, congestion and extreme weather

Abstract

We explore how hierarchical interventions change people’s decisions to postpone or cancel travel, comparing the effects of different travel characteristics and external risks. Three travel scenarios (daily grocery shopping, going to a restaurant, and attending a one-off sports match) are considered under three types of travel hindrance (pandemic, heavy rain and traffic congestion). A survey conducted in Japan, Germany and the UK reveals the following results. First, half of the respondents postpone or cancel travel only with a provision of risk information. Second, more than half of the respondents who would not postpone travel with risk information alone change their minds if economic compensation is offered. Third, the minimum discount rate, applied for a future visit, that would change the current behaviour lies within the reasonable range, about 20–40 %. The required discount rate for cancelling is higher than that for postponing. Fourth, when compensation is offered, people postpone or cancel travel if they prioritise for finishing things quickly, are concerned about environmental issues or evaluation by others, feel hassled when cycling or driving a car, or have an attitude of avoiding situational risk.