Abstract
The unprecedented public panic caused by COVID-19 will affect the recovery of tourism, especially the theme parks, which are generally crowded due to high visitor volume. The purpose of this study is to discuss the effect of the COVID-19 on the theme park industry. This study aims to predict recommendation intentions of theme park visitors by exploring the complicated mechanism derived from the fear of COVID-19. This study uses a quantitative research method, and SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 22.0 were used for data analysis. An online survey was conducted with 420 Chinese respondents who visited Shanghai Disneyland after its reopening. The study explored the relationship between Fear of COVID-19, perceived risk, participation, service experience, and revisit intention. Results indicated the perceived risk of theme park visitors will not directly ruin their recommendation intention. Visitors’ fear of COVID-19 enhanced their perceived risk, reduced their desire for active participation and impaired their service experience, which consequently affected their recommendation intention. We provide theoretical and managerial implications.
Highlights
The global tourism industry has suffered a contraction of over 80% of businesses since the COVID19 pandemic surfaced (UNWTO, 2020)
COVID-19 triggers negative emotions that hardly disappear in a short time, which could hinder the recovery of the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era
Our study focused on clarifying the underlying mechanism of fear of COVID-19 on tourists’ experiences and behaviours
Summary
The global tourism industry has suffered a contraction of over 80% of businesses since the COVID19 pandemic surfaced (UNWTO, 2020). The long-term effects of COVID-19 on the tourism industry are considerably more serious than the effects of SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012 (Baldwin and di Mauro, 2020). Pandemic regulations and control measures, such as maintaining social distance and restricting people’s gatherings, have severely affected tourism sectors, such as airlines, hotels, theme parks, and attractions. COVID-19, have substantially contributed to tourism economies (Dong and Siu, 2013). They provide core entertainment activities, such as themed facilities, rides, and various supplementary services (e.g., food and beverages, shopping, and other services), thereby creating novel and pleasurable experiences for tourists and visitors
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