The impact mechanism and boundary conditions of tourists' restoration perception on destination attachment: A resource conservation perspective

Abstract

Fast-paced lifestyle and complications caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic have enlightened the needs of people to seek restorative experiences. This study draws on the conservation of resources (COR) theory and establishes a moderated mediation model to examine how and when tourists' restoration perception affects destination attachment. Data were collected from 456 visitors to Hainan Island in China. The results show that tourists' restoration perception positively affects subjective well-being and self-congruity. Subjective well-being and self-congruity completely mediate the indirect relationship between tourists' restoration perception and destination attachment. Travel memory positively moderates the effects of subjective well-being and self-congruity on destination attachment. Our findings enrich the extant knowledge on the restorative effect of tourist destinations and people-place relationships and provide insights into emotional marketing strategies for tourism destination management.