A self-control theory perspective on tourists’ short-vacation preference: empirical evidence from China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on a nationwide survey, it is proposed that short-vacation preference exists in the Chinese domestic tourist market. Introducing self-control theory from behavioral economics, this study constructed a conceptual framework and conducted an empirical exploration to identify the economic effect of different types of holiday vacations. It verified that domestic Chinese tourists usually spend more on short vacations to avoid excessive spending in the future due to self-control. This study has empirically verified and generalized the applicability of self-control theory in the tourism field, thus providing a richer analytical tool and a deeper understanding of tourist consumption behaviors.