The association surveyed 654 Hongkongers aged 18 to 50 between December 1 and 4 on their overseas travel and related Covid infections, with 75 percent of respondents or their relatives and friends having traveled abroad during the pandemic.

Twenty-seven percent had caught Covid when traveling abroad since the beginning of the pandemic, with 26 percent of them getting infected within seven days of departure.

The places where most Hong Kong travelers got Covid were the United Kingdom (48 percent), followed by Europe (23 percent) and Canada (19 percent).

"Although risks from the Omicron variants have decreased, getting Covid during travel has greatly impacted citizens' plans overall," said association convener Jeffrey Pong Chiu-Fai.

Statistics from the survey showed 17 percent of people interviewed missed their return flights due to infection, while another nine percent consulted doctors or spend time in hospital at their destinations. More than half said they were planning trips abroad in the coming six months.

More Hongkongers are expected to travel overseas during the Christmas holiday season, the association said.

And 66 percent of those interviewed said they would drop their masks during the trip if not required by the host country, which Pong said may increase the risk of getting infected.

"Some 23 percent of people even said they were prepared for an infection during trips, and half of the interviewees thought there would be mild or no symptoms when getting reinfected, which is pretty worrying," Pong added.

Joseph Tsang Kay-Yan, a specialist in infectious disease, said: "Even if you have caught Covid before, or have had a booster shot, it's still possible to get infected again."

Citing a US study, Tsang said reinfected people were 1.6 to three times more likely to develop sequela, get hospitalized and die of Covid.

The association suggested that citizens planning to travel abroad consider getting a bivalent vaccine, which offers more thorough protection from Omicron sub-variants, at least two weeks before departure.

Tsang also hoped the Hong Kong government would lower the age limit, which is now 18, for getting a bivalent vaccine.

Pediatrician Jacky Chang Kit suggested parents get bivalent vaccines to better protect their children. Other precautionary travel suggestions include preparing adequate sanitizing products, medicines and travel insurance.