Travel and tourism have ceased due to the COVID-19 health disease crisis since the end of 2019. This study explores tourists’ motivation and actual behaviour to travel during the early post-COVID-19. By using a qualitative research approach, ten international visitors were interviewed to provide insights. The findings highlight seeking nature, relaxation, and novelty as core factors driving travel motivation. This study contributes to the tourism literature by uncovering tourists’ travel motivation in the post-COVID-19 pandemic, thereby providing destination marketing organisations and service providers with cues to tailor their offerings to stimulate travel and tourism activities.