Over 20% of Irish adults believe they will not feel safe travelling overseas until 2022 as a result of COVID-19, a new survey has found.

The pandemic has grounded flights and closed hotels and other tourist amenities worldwide.

According to the findings, 24% of adults in Ireland believe it will be safe to travel overseas before the end of this year, while 55% believe it will feel safe to travel abroad in 2021.

However 21% think it will be 2022 before they feel safe going abroad.

The survey found that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 60% of adults were planning to go abroad this year and of those planning to go overseas during the summer, 48% have already cancelled their plans.

Some 18% had already planned to stay in Ireland for their holidays this year and 11% of these have already cancelled their plans.

Almost one-quarter of those who have given up on going abroad this year are hoping to holiday in Ireland at some point this year. That idea is most popular among those over the age of 55.

The survey was carried out by iReach Insights between May 7-13.