The impact of destination image, perceived value, and psychological well-being on domestic tourists’ behavioural intentions

Cultural familiarity and food neophilia both shape tourists’ local food experiences. However, limited research has explored how these factors interact within tourists’ psychological processes. This study applies approach-avoidance motivation theory to examine how cultural familiarity influences emotional responses, destination food image, place attachment, and behavioural intentions, with food neophilia serving as a moderator. Data were collected from 401 domestic tourists in Yangzhou, China, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. The results from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) show that cultural familiarity enhances emotional engagement, which in turn strengthens destination evaluations and behavioural intentions. The moderating effect of food neophilia indicates that familiarity and novelty jointly shape tourists’ desire for both comfort and new experiences. These findings contribute to tourism theory by introducing a dual-motivation framework into food tourism research. From a managerial perspective, the study offers practical insights for destination marketers. Cultivating ‘unexpected familiarity’ by blending familiar cultural elements with novel experiences can help reduce travel anxiety, strengthen emotional engagement, and increase destination appeal and revisit intentions.

This paper reviews relevant research on green tourism, extends the Theory of Planned behavior (TPB) model, perceived value, and Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, and develops a mechanism model to investigate how perceived value influences green tourists' behavioral intentions in the context of the Hulunbuir Grassland. To address the research gap concerning the underlying mechanisms influencing tourists’ behavioral intentions in the context of green tourism, this study collected and analysed data from 311 green tourists. Statistical techniques were employed to examine the data, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses and validate the theoretical framework. Empirical findings indicate that perceived value consists of four dimensions—environmental, emotional, functional, and social value—with environmental value exerting the strongest positive influence on green tourists’ behavioral intentions. However, the effects of behavioral attitude and perceived behavioral control on behavioral intention were found to be statistically insignificant, whereas subjective norms exhibited a significant influence. The primary contribution of this study lies in the integrated application of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), perceived value theory, and the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to the context of green tourism. This comprehensive theoretical model underscores the pivotal role of perceived value in shaping tourists’ behavioral intentions. This provides a scientific basis and practical guidance for policy formulation aimed at green tourism development in Hulunbuir Grassland, thereby promoting its sustainable tourism growth. The novelty of the research stems from its comprehensive analysis of these roles of environmental, emotional, functional, and social values in green tourism through a multidimensional approach to perceived value, addressing gaps in existing literature and enhancing the understanding of factors affecting green tourists' behavioral intentions.

PurposeThe study investigates the influence of perceived security (PS) on behavioral intention (BI) via the trust attitude process and explores the moderating effects of gender. PS in mobile wallets enhances user trust (TR), attitude (ATT) and intention (INT). Using a multiple and serial mediation model, both TR and ATT were found to mediate the relationship between PS and BI.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory, the proposed conceptual model comprises PS, TR, ATT and BI. An online survey was conducted with a cross-sectional sample of 744 mobile wallet users in India. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships and test the mediation effects.FindingsResults show that the stimulus, PS, has a positive and significant influence on TR and ATT, which eventually has a positive influence on BI. The research model explains 64.4 percent of the variance in BI. Further, both TR and ATT independently and parallelly mediate the relationship PS and BI. Lastly, gender is found to moderate the relationship between TR and BI and ATT and BI.Practical implicationsThe research showed the importance of PS, TR and ATT towards mobile wallet adoption INTs. Further, the findings support the idea that developing TR and ATT is essential for shaping INTs. This suggests that mobile wallet service providers should invest in methods that not just enhance user TR but also reinforce a positive ATT towards the platform. To demonstrate TR, mobile wallet providers must ensure the confidentiality and privacy of user data, keep customer interests in mind and fulfill commitments. Lastly, for strengthening customer TR, excellent customer support is extremely important.Originality/valueWhile prior researchers have majorly used technology acceptance model (TAM) and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) models to explain adoption INTs, this study examines the relationship between PS, TR, ATT and BI through the lens of the SOR framework.

Based on the survey data for 2120 inbound and domestic tourists at the Shanghai World Expo, a structural equation model was constructed for the relationship among tourists’ perceived value dimensions, behavioral intention and revisit intention. Additionally, the influence of tourists’ perceived value dimensions on the behavioral intention and revisit intention was explored. The results show that the utilitarian value and enjoyment value significantly affect the inbound and domestic tourists’ behavioral intention, while the convenience value and aesthetic value have no significant influence. The service value only significantly affects the domestic tourists’ behavioral intention, and the aesthetic value only significantly affects the inbound tourists’ behavioral intention. The utilitarian value, service value and enjoyment value significantly affect the inbound and domestic tourists’ revisit intention, while the convenience value only significantly affects the domestic tourists’ revisit intention. The utilitarian value is the primary factor affecting the inbound tourists’ behavioral intention and revisit intention, and the perceived price has no significant effect on either inbound or domestic tourists’ behavioral intention or revisit intention. The study explores the relationships between tourists’ perceived value, behavioral intention and revisit intention, analyzes the divergence and causation, theoretically enriches the research field of tourism geography and behavioral geography, and has great practical significance to the sustainable development of mega events in China, including the further development of the Shanghai World Expo.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine halal certification for halal culinary, destination brand and emotional experiences on customer satisfaction and behavioral intention.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative survey approach to 400 respondents consisting of Muslim foreign and domestic tourists who had visited Lombok in the past three years. The sampling technique is by purposive sampling. The analysis technique used in this study is structural equation modeling-partial least square (SEM-PLS).FindingsThe findings showed that halal certification has no effect on customer satisfaction but on influenced behavioral intention, destination brand of Lombok had no effect on customer satisfaction; customer satisfaction influenced behavioral intention and emotional experiences affected customer satisfaction and behavioral intention.Research limitations/implicationsThis study collects data from respondents both domestic and foreign tourists simultaneously. However, the data acquisition of respondents and foreign tourists is not balanced. Thus, this study analyzes tourists in general, not distinguished between foreign and domestic tourists.Practical implicationsThe government and tourism organizers in Lombok need to provide socialization for domestic and foreign tourists on the need to choose halal-certified food and drinks to ensure halal and hygiene. In addition, so that the destination image of Lombok can provide a beautiful experience that becomes a moment of the truth, then the local government should improve its service strategy holistically.Social implicationsDestination image needs to be improved. This requires holistic tourism quality services so that the social community knows that Indonesia has a halal tourism destination that exists as tourists come from the airport to the hotel and enjoy food in restaurants and tourist attractions that are Muslim friendly.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to filling the void in the literature related to tourism management that is linked to tourism in the aftermath of natural disasters, where empirical studies on halal tourism are on the rise. Therefore, respondents in the study were specific, that is, those who had traveled. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of a kind that includes behavioral intention in tourist destinations after natural disasters in the Indonesian context.

Cultural heritage sites play a crucial role in safeguarding identity, fostering cultural exchange, and generating sustainable tourism. Within this context, the Palace Museum in Beijing, which attracts 19 million annual visitors, offers a compelling case for examining the dynamics that shape revisit intention. This study explores the relationships among perceived authenticity, place attachment, destination satisfaction, visitor engagement, and revisit intention within the context of heritage tourism. Using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), data were collected from local visitors to the Palace Museum to analyze both the direct and mediating effects of these constructs. Findings indicate that perceived authenticity significantly enhances both destination satisfaction and visitor engagement, while place attachment makes a strong contribution to visitor engagement. Moreover, visitor engagement emerged as a more influential mediator than destination satisfaction in linking perceived authenticity to revisit intention, showing the importance of immersive and meaningful participation in shaping tourists’ behavioral intentions. These results suggest that while satisfaction remains a relevant concept, strategies that emphasize authenticity-driven experiences and fostering of deeper emotional and participatory bonds are more effective in sustaining revisits. This study advances the understanding of heritage tourism and provides practical insights for managing iconic heritage sites such as the Palace Museum.

Over the past few years, great attention has been given to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on employee psychological well-being (PWB), particularly in the hospitality industry. Like many aspects of human life, employee PWB is influenced by multiple factors. One of the factors that may affect employee PWB is transformational leadership (TLS). Accordingly, we aim through this study to empirically (1) examine the direct effect of transformational leadership on employee PWB and (2) investigate the potential independent and serial mediation effects of employee engagement (EEG) and job satisfaction (JS) on the TLS-PWB relationship after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire from a convenience sample of 403 front-line employees from five-star hotels in Saudi Arabia. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the bootstrapping technique was utilized to test the study hypotheses. Based on the demands–resources (JD-R) theory, the findings of this study reveal a significant positive effect of TLS on hotel employees’ PWB. Additionally, drawing on the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) model, the two main contributions of this study are: (1) EEG and JS serially and independently have a significant partial mediational effect on the TLS-PWB relationship among hotel employees, and (2) EEG has a greater impact on the TLS-PWB relationship as an intervening variable than the two other mediators (JS, as well as EEG and JS serially). Based on these findings, hotel management should mainly consider developing and encouraging TLS behavior among their managers to promote EEG and increase JS among their followers, which consequently enhances their PWB and alleviates negative psychological outcomes due to experiencing a disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modeling domestic tourism: motivations, satisfaction and tourist behavioral intentions

Background: This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of perceived destination image on the relationship between information quality in user-generated content (UGC) and behavioral intention, with a focus on the intention to revisit Lampung as a tourist destination, while extending the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model by Mehrabian and Russel. Methods: Based on the tourism context in Lampung, a total of 283 valid responses from domestic tourists were collected and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the research hypotheses. Findings: The indirect path analysis results show that cognitive image significantly mediates the relationship between representational information quality and social information quality on behavioral intention to revisit, while affective image serves as a significant mediator in the relationship between representational information quality and contextual information quality on behavioral intention to revisit. Interestingly, this study also found that intrinsic information quality has a significant direct effect on behavioral intention to revisit. Conclusion: These findings contribute significantly to understanding how destination image influences tourists' perceptions of different types of information quality in shaping their intention to revisit, while also highlighting the complex interplay between humans and technology in the context of tourism. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study extends the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model by examining the mediating role of cognitive and affective destination images between different dimensions of UGC information quality and tourists’ behavioral intention to revisit.

Inbound digital marketing strategies play a vital role in the tourism industry, significantly influencing visitors’ decision-making processes, enhancing tourist experiences, and ensuring post-consumption satisfaction. This study explores the effectiveness of digital marketing strategies in shaping tourists’ perceptions of service quality and sustainability and their subsequent impact on overall satisfaction and behavioural intentions. This paper developed a conceptual framework and hypotheses through a comprehensive literature review to assess the causal relationships between digital marketing effectiveness, perceived destination service quality, perceived destination sustainability quality, tourist satisfaction, and behavioural intention. The empirical analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) on data collected from 195 international tourists in Thailand’s coastal regions. The results reveal that while digital marketing effectiveness directly influences tourists’ perceptions of service and sustainability quality, it indirectly influences tourist satisfaction and behavioural intentions through these perceptions. The findings highlight the critical role of aligning digital marketing strategies with service quality and sustainability initiatives. Moreover, the developed construct serves as a valuable tool for assessing and maintaining the destination image, helping tourism providers to improve their offerings and continuously foster long-term customer relationships.

The financial service sector involves high-risk and uncertain elements that make financial decision-making challenging; thus, information sources act as facilitators. The present study analyzed the effects of financial advertisements on investors’ behavioral intentions with perceived risk acting as a mediator and gender and marital status as moderating variables. The study empirically validates the proposed conceptual model (based on Stimulus–Organism–Response) with the interrelationship between financial advertisement antecedents, perceived risk, and investors’ investment intentions. Data were collected from 481 respondents using the survey method and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). “Multigroup analysis (MGA)” was conducted to identify the gender and marital status intergroup moderating effects. The study confirms the significant relationship between informativeness and truthfulness with the perceived risk. The result found that credibility and truthfulness are significantly related to investor intention. In addition, the mediating effect of the perceived risk was found to be absent. Gender is moderating the relationship between credibility and investment intentions; informativeness and perceived risk; truthfulness and perceived risk, whereas marital status moderates the relationship between credibility and investment intentions; involvement and perceived risk; and truthfulness and perceived risk. The present study helps to understand millennial investment decision-making when they are exposed to various financial promotions and advertisements. This study provides insights to the government in policy framing regarding the financial advertisements essentials and disclosures that need to be focused on.

PurposeAugmented reality (AR) provides consumers with added value by allowing them to experience products via mobile devices. An increasing number of brands have adopted AR apps, but little is known about how consumers respond to AR app attributes or what motivates them to use luxury brand AR apps. To fill this gap, this study aims to use the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model to examine how AR app attributes (i.e. interactivity and virtuality) and customer-based brand equity (CBBE) (i.e. brand awareness and brand image) of luxury brands affect consumers’ behavioral intention to share about the app and use it for future purchases.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were recruited using a quantitative online survey (n = 214) and asked to use the Gucci mobile AR app before completing the survey. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. All measures were adapted from existing literature.FindingsFindings indicate that AR app attributes lead to positive consumer experience, in turn, creating behavioral intention, while CBBE partially leads to positive consumer perceptions. Post hoc analysis confirms that consumers’ perceived values mediate the relationship between AR app attributes and consumers’ attitudes toward a luxury brand AR app.Originality/valueTheoretically, this study expands the application of the S-O-R model along with brand equity to AR adoption and luxury retail by demonstrating the intricate mechanism of how AR app attributes and CBBE promote consumers’ behavioral intentions toward luxury brand AR apps. Practitioners may create more interactive and immersive virtual product demonstrations and focus on establishing the overall brand image.

This study examines links between social media engagement, psychological factors, and life satisfaction (LS) among older Taiwanese adults, extending TAM, UTAUT, and TPB. The model integrates cognitive constructs – perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) – with psychosocial dimensions: technology anxiety (TA), perceived depressive mood (PDM), social interaction anxiety (SIA), information trust (IT), and social support (SS), alongside attitudes (ATT), behavioral intention (BI), and actual social media use (ASMU). A survey of 185 adults aged 65–85 from Taiwanese senior centers employed validated scales. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with bootstrapping tested paths; Importance – Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) identified intervention priorities. Findings affirmed core TAM relations: PEOU increased PU, and both shaped ATT. ATT and IT predicted BI; BI strongly drove ASMU, which in turn improved LS. Psychological barriers were evident – TA reduced PEOU, and both PDM and SIA lowered BI – whereas SS directly increased BI. Mediation analyses showed BI and ASMU as key mechanisms linking cognitive and psychosocial factors to LS. These results extend TAM, UTAUT, and TPB by integrating emotional and contextual influences, indicating that digital inclusion requires accessible design and psychosocial supports. Practically, programs should combine digital literacy, peer mentoring, and trust-building strategies to convert intention into sustained engagement and enhanced well-being in later life.

This study investigates the determinants of tourist revisit intentions within the domain of wellness tourism, focusing on distinctions between domestic and foreign tourists through the amalgamation of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Data from 196 foreign tourists and 187 domestic tourists were analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) to test the hypotheses proposed for this study. Results show that perceived benefits and word of mouth strongly affect visitors’ attitudes toward wellness tourism. Additionally, visitors’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly influence their intentions to revisit. Variations between domestic and foreign tourists were noted: perceived benefits have a greater impact on foreign tourists’ attitudes, while word of mouth is more influential among domestic tourists. However, no significant differences were found in how perceived behavioral control and attitudes affect revisit intentions across tourist types. These findings contribute valuable insights to frame marketing strategies that enhance visitor revisit intention in the wellness tourism industry.

The tourism industry is a key factor in the economic growth of countries such as China. This study explores the effect of information quality on TikTok, the most popular platform for short videos, and how it influences the flow experience, satisfaction, and tourists' intention to visit Chongqing, China. This study investigated the function of flow experience and satisfaction as mediators in the context of Chinese tourism. This research is based on the stimulus‒organism‒response (S-O-R) model, which is the primary theoretical framework. The data collection was conducted using a cross-sectional approach, primarily focusing on TikTok users in China through the Questionnaire Star platform. Of the 384 questionnaires that were distributed, 337 were considered valid and were included in the research. This study utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the hypotheses and verify the reliability and validity of both the measurement model and structural model. The findings indicate that information quality significantly influences tourists' inclination to take action and emphasize the relevance of flow experience and satisfaction in mediating this connection. This research not only enriches the theoretical understanding by extending the S-O-R model but also has practical implications for scholars in the fields of tourism, policymakers, and government agencies. The research concludes by outlining the limitations and future directions.