The recent reopening of the country’s borders – which includes the scrapping of mandatory quarantine for inbound tourists and returning citizens – spells good news for many Malaysians who can’t wait to travel abroad again. For some, however, being cooped up at home for more than two years has shattered their confidence to see the world once more.
Such is the case for entrepreneur Nur Batrisyia Nizam Shah, 22. Despite being an avid traveller (she travelled overseas about twice a year before Covid-19), there’s a part of her that still remains fearful of travelling now.
Shifting from confinement to being in crowded areas can be disorienting, she says. The different restrictions practised by respective countries also complicate matters.
“There are so many procedures required for travelling these days like wearing a mask, scanning codes upon entry to premises, presenting your vaccination status and documentation,” she says.
Rules and regulations aside, being in the presence of other people has also been a challenge for Nur Batrisyia.
She reveals that readjusting to being among others is extremely difficult, and the thought of being in close proximity to someone who’s potentially positive for Covid-19 is a real concern.
Nevertheless, Nur Batrisyia has taken some practical steps to warm up to the idea of travelling again. After interstate travel was allowed in September last year, she would take day trips naerby her home in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan to alleviate her fear of being in crowds.
“I would often drive to the malls or parks in Kuala Lumpur during my free time. If I’m feeling adventurous, I would take a drive with my family to Penang too,” she says.
Next, Nur Batrisyia is planning a family holiday to Singapore.She says touring a neighbouring country is a great way to test the waters on international travel, particularly because of the short distance.
“I want to save money during these difficult times too, and travelling to a nearby country is much more affordable,” she explains.
In addition, she feels at ease touring Singapore as the country has a high vaccination rate and clear standard operating procedures (SOP).
While she’s still intimidated by “endemic phase travel”, Nur Batrisyia says it’s necessary to overcome this fear as Covid-19 will not go away anytime soon.
“I think it’s important to move into the endemic phase and adapt to the new changes. We can’t keep putting our lives on hold because of the virus,” she says.
Getting past the hurdle
Studies have shown that people are just not used to travelling any more after being stuck at home for two years.
The prolonged social isolation during the pandemic has exacerbated people’s anxieties, says Nasehah Mohd Taib, 31, a psychology lecturer at INTI International University.
“Humans are social beings, and we need human interaction to survive. The longer we’re away from something, the more anxious we’ll be because that feeling of familiarity is not there any more,” says Nasehah who is also a member of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychologists (MSCP).
“We’ve become so used to communicating virtually that the minute we’re put in a social setting, we start feeling uncertain about how to act around others,” she shares.
While most travellers find joy in exploring new environments, it can be an incredibly dreadful experience for those who are socially anxious.
Little things such as eating in a restaurant or going to a crowded shopping mall become difficult. Some may even experience physical symptoms such as sweating, nausea and rapid breathing.
She reveals that this extreme fear or anxiety puts people on edge and prevents them from trying new experiences.
“Most people who suffer from anxiety want to be mentally prepared before going on any trip. Some will even rehearse potential scenarios they may experience and generate appropriate responses to prepare themselves beforehand,” Nasehah says.
Additionally, travel anxiety can also put a strain on the way we communicate with our travel companions.
“Travelling pre-pandemic was already fraught with risks and uncertainties. With the additional fear of catching Covid-19, your travel companion may be easily overwhelmed by the multiple safety protocols in place,” Nasehah explains.
With that in mind, it’s imperative for you and your companion to have a mutual agreement on the boundaries set, and to what extent both parties are willing to step out of them before hitting the road.
Taking baby steps
Living with anxiety isn’t easy and travelling with it can be a nightmare, but there are a few ways to ensure this mental barrier doesn’t get out of hand.
If you find yourself expecting only the worst-case scenario, then it’s time to change that. According to Nasehah, having the right mindset about travelling is the first step to tackle travel anxiety.
“People who constantly tell themselves ‘Everything is dangerous now’ should replace this negative thought with words of affirmation such as ‘I will be okay’ whenever they feel anxious,” she says.
She also mentions about the importance of identifying one’s own triggers, so they can anticipate and take the proper cause of action to handle anxiety when it arises.
For a more practical approach, Nasehah suggests practising relaxation techniques such as mindful breathing and meditation – both of which have been proven to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Alternatively, you could also make use of your social platforms to connect with people struggling with the same issue. Not only does it help combat travel anxiety but social anxiety as well.
“Browsing through people’s travel experiences online and joining communities who are sharing the same experiences will make you feel more reassured and that you’re not alone in this battle,” Nasehah says.
She adds that gradual exposure is an effective way to keep one’s travel anxiety in check too.
“List down the countries you wish to visit most and rank them according to your fears. Based on the rankings, start off with the place you feel most comfortable visiting and make your way down the list,” she says.
If starting with countries straight off the bat is overwhelming, Nasehah strongly recommends taking small trips around local areas to get accustomed to being outside.
“The key is to start slow. Once you get used to it, you will feel at ease progressing to more invigorating experiences,” she says.
Inspiring confidence
Of course, tourism operators have an important role to play in allaying travel anxiety. Many stakeholders have used the downtime during the past two years to beef up safety and hygiene measures.
Asean Tourism Research Association (ATRA) president Prof Dr Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan says travellers could benefit from the heightened services of tour operators.
“The best way to travel during this uncertain environment is to engage an approved and licensed travel company if you are travelling abroad. This way you may not worry too much about all the travel requirements and restrictions as it will be managed by the professionals in the field,” he says.
According to Prof Neethiahnanthan, travel anxiety is something that is staked upon many factors.
“I think travel reservations are very much associated to the notion of fear to travel especially with travelling overseas as there are too many uncertainties with the pandemic, inconsistent travel regulations across countries, and inconsistent vaccination rates in different parts of the world.
Addressing the aforementioned issues will help travellers to rebuild their confidence.
“As such, we need to instil confidence to travel through close cooperation among countries using mutual recognitions on travel protocol such as mutual acceptance of ‘vaccine passports’, safe and flexible travel arrangements with fewer restrictions, and easing of quarantine requirements,” he concludes.
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