Motivations and Constraints for the Ghost Tourism: A Case Study in Spain

Abstract

Ghost tourism is emerging in numerous destinations all around world. This paper examines the motivations for participating in ghost tourism using the push-pull theory; and analyzes how motivations and constraints may influence the intention to participate in ghost tourism in Spain. Data were collected from 177 domestic tourists in Córdoba (Spain). An exploratory factor analysis revealed two push motivation dimensions and three pull motivation dimensions. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the results showed that the search for novelty and emotional experience (push motivation) and the organization of ghost tours (pull motivation) are key incentives for the behavioral intention. Moreover, among the constraints analyzed, only the intrapersonal constraint significantly affects tourists’ intentions.

Keywords:

• Behavioral intention
• constraint
• ghost tour
• paranormal tourism
• push-pull motivation