ABSTRACT
This study identifies key attributes of local people in enhancing tourists’ personal connection and examines whether personal connection to local people induces the destination’s distinctiveness and consequently positive word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions regarding the destination. For the empirical tests, data were collected from 280 tourists to Japan from South Korea and analyzed. The results indicate that (1) three attributes of local people (physical attractiveness, displayed positive emotions, and helpfulness) improved the personal connection; (2) the personal connection increased destination distinctiveness and WOM intentions; and (3) destination distinctiveness perceived by tourists generated WOM intentions. These results have important theoretical and practical implications.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Minjung Nam
Minjung Nam, PhD, post-doctoral research fellow at the Research Institute for Social Criticality (RISC), Pusan National University, Jangjeon-Dong, San 30, Kumjung-Gu, Busan 609-735 Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).
Insin Kim
Insin Kim is Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism and Convention, Pusan National University, Jangjeon-Dong, San 30, Kumjung-Gu, Busan 609-735 Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).
Jinsoo Hwang
Jinsoo Hwang is Assistant Professor, Division of Tourism, Dongseo University, 47 Jurye-ro, Sasang-gu, Busan 617-716, Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).