How Does COVID-19 Influence Tourist Behavioral Intentions in a Post-COVID World?

ABSTRACT

Understanding the role of threat-based awe in the context of COVID-19 is crucial for recovering post-pandemic tourism. This study tested the proposed theory based on 396 Chinese respondents. The findings indicated that threat-based awe caused by COVID-19 positively influenced travel intentions, as well as a preference for novel tourism destinations and natural tourism attractions, through increased openness to learning. Threat-based awe caused by COVID-19 was also found to lead to unique travel companions and transportation through increased connectedness to others. This study has valuable theoretical implications for academics and practical implications for industry operators, destinations, and policymakers in the post-COVID-19 world.

摘要

理解新冠产生的基于威胁的敬畏对于后疫情时代的旅游业恢复至关重要。本研究基于396名中国旅游者的调研数据对提出的理论进行了检验。研究结果表明，新冠产生的基于威胁的敬畏通过增加学习开放性进而促进旅游意愿、新奇旅游目的地偏好以及自然旅游景点偏好。此外，新冠产生的基于威胁的敬畏通过增加与他人的联结性对旅游同伴和旅游交通方式的偏好产生显著影响。本研究结果对后疫情时代的相关学术研究具有重要的理论意义，而对后疫情时代的旅游实践者、旅游目的地和政策制定者也具有重要的实践意义。

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• threat-based awe
• openness to learning
• connectedness to others
• tourist behavioral intentions

关键词:

• 新冠
• 基于威胁的敬畏
• 学习开放性
• 与他人的联结性
• 旅游者行为意愿

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yu Pan

Yu Pan is Lecturer in the Culture and Tourism College at the University of Jinan, Shandong Jinan, China. Also, he is a teacher in the Institute of Tourism Culture and Creativity at the University of Jinan, Shandong Jinan, China. His research interests include consumer behavior, destination marketing, tourism and culture, and leisure and society (E-mail: https://[email protected]; [email protected]).

Jianwen Li

Jianwen Li is a Ph.D. Candidate in Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA. His research interests include senior living management, tourism economics, workforce development, and applications of hospitality organizational culture in healthcare and senior living industries (E-mail: https://[email protected]).

Xiaoxiao Fu

Xiaoxiao Fu is Associate Professor in Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA. Dr. Fu’s research contributes to the rich tapestry of consumer experience and well-being in hospitality and tourism. Recently, she has focused on people-place relations from both hosts’ and guests’ perspective. (E-mail: [email protected]).

Yamei Liu

Yamei Liu is a Ph.D. student in Department of Human Resource of College of Business at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China. Her current research interests include leadership, behavioral ethics, proactivity, and prosocial behavior (E-mail: https://[email protected]).

Xinyu Guo

Xinyu Guo is Lecturer in Department of Physical Education at Qufu Normal University, Qufu, China. His research interests include consumer behavior in sport and tourism (E-mail: https://[email protected]).