Effect of Home-Host Country Psychic Distance (HHCPD) Perception of Chinese Tourists on Tourism Shopping Motivation and Fashion Brand Attitudes in Korea

Abstract

The contribution of foreign tourist consumption on national economies is becoming increasingly important for many countries. This study examines the relationship of home-host country psychic distance (HHCPD), tourism shopping motivation and attitudes towards local and global fashion brands in host countries. Survey data from a sample of 500 Chinese tourists were collected at an international airport in Korea. The results reveal that all three key factors of HHCPD (economic, geographic and cultural distance) positively affect social shopping motivation. Moreover, only economic distance has a positive effect on commodity shopping motivation, while both cultural and economic distance positively influence souvenir shopping motivation. All three factors of tourism shopping motivation positively affect local fashion brand attitudes, while only commodity shopping motivation positively affects consumer attitudes towards global fashion brands. Thus, fashion marketers should trigger the shopping motivation of foreign tourists by maximising the psychic distance from their home in order to satisfy fashion-seeking tourists.