Unveiling the Critical Factors of Terrestrial Space Tourism Destinations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Spanning from orbital and suborbital flights to spaceports, space museums, space hotels, and much more, space tourism is poised to redefine the landscape of the travel industry, promising economic growth, and prosperity for destinations across the globe. However, despite its transformative potential, existing literature has dedicated little attention to its exploration. Our research endeavours to shed light on the concept of terrestrial space tourism destinations. We crafted a comprehensive theoretical model that forms the bedrock for a deeper understanding of this unique and specialized niche. We employ a qualitative approach, drawing from an array of sources, including interviews with industry experts and key informants. Findings uncovered several critical factors that need to be considered when establishing a competitive and sustainable terrestrial space tourism destination, namely: safety, residents’ acceptance, infrastructures, and education. Furthermore, we introduce six research gaps that can inspire future investigations in this dynamically evolving field.