Residents’ support for Hyperloop development and their travel intention: a case study of Gyeongnam Province, South Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Hyperloop infrastructure development in Korea has become a multi-billion-dollar project. Although Hyperloop trains will bring considerable benefits to local communities, little is known about how residents perceive Hyperloop infrastructure. Drawing from the means-end chain framework, this study explores the causal relationships between the perceived benefits of Hyperloop development, how residents perceive its value, whether they support Hyperloop, and their intention to travel on Hyperloop. A total of 592 residents of Gyeongnam Province, South Korea, completed an online survey. The results revealed that (1) the perceived benefits of Hyperloop development directly lead to a positive image and perceived value of Hyperloop trains; (2) the image of Hyperloop travel significantly influences its perceived value; and (3) perceived value directly influences residents’ support for Hyperloop development and intention to travel on Hyperloop trains. The study’s results contribute to the tourism literature, with implications for policymakers, tasked with promoting Hyperloop development.