Emotional Solidarity Research Articles

Rethinking stimulus-organism-response theory for residents’ behaviour in tourism

ABSTRACT This paper critically examines the application of the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory in tourism research, addressing essential critiques and proposing avenues for theoretical refinement. The current study synthesizes existing literature to explore residents’ behaviour in tourism contexts. This work seeks to determine how residents’ place attachment influences their emotional connection with tourists (measured by the New Emotional Solidarity Scale abbreviated as NESS) and how NESS impacts their facilitations (active and passive), ultimately predicts support for tourism development through using S-O-R. The research involved 450 residents of Sivas, Turkey, and was conducted using random sampling. Notably, nine out of the ten proposed hypotheses were supported. Results indicated that place dependence and place identity were linked to NESS factors (communality and fairness), except for the insignificant relationship between place dependence and communality. Furthermore, NESS factors significantly determined facilitation factors that were ultimately significant predictors of support for tourism. This work contributes to the theoretical synthesis and practical insights for destination management and policy interventions in tourism. It also advances the understanding of residents’ behaviour and informs evidence-based decision-making in the tourism industry.

Influence of emotional solidarity on residents’ support for holiday rentals

ABSTRACT This study analyses residents’ support for holiday rentals within the framework of the Social Exchange Theory and Emotional Solidarity Theory. We propose an integrated conceptual model to evaluate how perceptions of positive and negative impacts, along with emotional solidarity among residents and tourists, as well as residents and hosts, affect support for holiday rentals. The study is based on a survey of 2,045 residents of Tenerife, Majorca and Alicante, applying PLS-SEM for data analysis. The results emphasise that emotional solidarity with tourists and hosts significantly influences perception of the impacts of the activity, showing how emotional ties can enhance support or rejection of tourism activities. This novel approach ponders important implications for managing tourist destinations and maintaining harmony in communities with holiday rental activity.

Crime and Criminal Typology Independent Role Toward Tourism Support and the Intervening Position of Emotional Solidarity with Tourists

The The study explains the mediating relationship of emotional solidarity between crime, criminal typology, and tourism support among North-West tourist destinations of Swat, Pakistan. Crime has elevated among different tourist destinations, and community individuals do not support tourists visiting them. Crime rates are likely to have an adverse reputational impact on tourists’ tourism support and diminish the inclination of tourists to return. A quantitative research approach was used, and (n=398) respondents were consulted randomly through a questionnaire. Statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS V-21) and structural equation modeling (SEM-AMOS V-21) were used to analyze the data. The predictive result revealed that crime significantly decreases emotional solidarity and tourism support. For instance, criminal typology also has an inverse relationship with emotional solidarity and tourism support. Emotional solidarity has a negative intervening effect between crime, criminal typology, and tourism support. The study puts forward a conclusion to policymakers that criminal activities and crime can decrease emotional solidarity and tourism support in different destinations. The research suggested that crime should be overcome to sustain visitor intentions, and that community should support tourists.

The evolution and application of emotional solidarity theory in tourism behaviour research

ABSTRACT This manuscript critically examines the use and application of the emotional solidarity (ES) theoretical framework within tourism, hospitality, sports, and leisure research, highlighting the interdisciplinary utilisation of the theory from other fields to understand individuals’ behaviour. The current study addresses the challenges posed by the selection of ES, including the issues of behavioural indicators, theory time lag, theory stickiness, and the potential restrictions of literature reviews. Through this exploration, this study aims to advocate for a more inclusive and dynamic approach to theory application in tourism studies that respects the original discipline's paradigms while adapting to the evolving landscape research focusing on residents’ and tourists’ behaviour as it pertains to the inextricably linked relationship between the parties.

The impact of emotional solidarity on festivals visitors' satisfaction. Does the festival authenticity matter?

Festivals offer more than just entertainment, it considered a powerful platform for emotional connection and cultural exchange. This study explores the impact of emotional solidarity on festival visitors' satisfaction. It also examines the moderating role of festival authenticity in the relationship between emotional solidarity and festival visitors’ satisfaction. Quantitative approach using 456 self-administered questionnaire directed to festival visitors in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal that all three dimensions of emotional solidarity welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding have a direct and significant positive impact on visitors' satisfaction. Furthermore, festival authenticity plays as a moderator between emotional solidarity dimensions and festival visitors’ satisfaction. The study discusses both theoretical and practical implications of these findings for festival organizers and tourism researchers.

Tourism Impacts on Local Residents Emotional Solidarity with Tourists: The Case of Mersin

Tourism affects the living conditions of local residents in the destinations where it develops in environmental, economic and sociocultural terms. In particular, the rise in the quality of life due to economic contributions of the sector to the region also affects the perceptions of local individuals towards tourism impacts and the way and level of communication with tourists. Emotional solidarity (ES), which examines the relationship between local residents and tourists in detail, is essential in terms of increasing the contribution to tourism development, the tendency of tourists to visit again, and the income of the region from tourism. Accordingly, the objective of the study was to detect the effects of the positive and adverse impacts of tourism on the ES of local residents with tourists. Regression analysis, correlation analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to analyze the research data. The research data were collected both face-to-face and online from individuals residing in Mersin province. The positive impacts of tourism were determined to have positive and significant effects on the 3 dimensions of ES, namely welcoming tourists (WT), emotional closeness (EC), and sympathetic understanding (SU). Besides, it was detected that the adverse impacts had an adverse and significant effect only on WT.

How Residents' Perceived Justice and Emotional Solidarity Interact With Their Quality of Life and Support for Tourism Development?

ABSTRACTCurrent study developed and validated an integrated model for examining the relationships among perceived justice, residents' quality of life, emotional solidarity, and support for tourism development. Study's integral model was estimated by using covariance based structural equation modeling with the help of 365 sample data. Procedural justice was discovered as the most reliable indicator of residents' quality of life. Additionally, it was discovered that inhabitants' support for tourism development was most strongly predicted with emotional closeness, followed by welcoming nature, and sympathetic understanding. Results confirmed that locals' support for tourism development is primarily due to procedural justice, which is followed by distributive and interactional justice. Findings also supported the hypothesis that residents' quality of life predicts their support for tourism development. Academic contributions and practical implications of the study are discussed at large.

EMOTIONAL SOLIDARITY IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: HOW POLICY AND KNOWLEDGE DRIVE SUPPORT IN GILGIT BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN

The participation of local communities is vital in developing tourism, as their attitudes and behaviours can significantly impact the growth and success of a destination. As the primary recipients of future tourism developments, the perspectives of local communities should guide the creation of sustainable policies aimed at maximising benefits and minimising negative impacts. The study examines how government policy, tourism knowledge, emotional solidarity, and support for tourism development are interrelated among the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Based on a quantitative and cross-sectional research design with two sampling stages comprising quota and purposive sampling, 216 responses from the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan were collected and analysed through Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). It was revealed that government policy and tourism knowledge influence residents' welcoming nature and emotional closeness, and they contribute to their support for tourism development. The findings underscore the importance of establishing targeted and effective support systems between stakeholders to sustain the benefits of tourism development.

Quality interactions give rise to residents' desire to engage with tourists: A cognitive appraisal model

The global tourism industry, a significant contributor to the world economy, often grapples with challenges related to the interactions between resident communities and tourists. This study, testing a cognitive appraisal theoretical model, explores how the quality of interactions (situation) between residents and tourists influences emotional solidarity (appraisal), which explains perceived emotions associated with tourists, and how these, in turn, affect residents' desire to engage in specific behaviors with tourists. Survey data were collected from a sample of Fijian residents (N = 407) in six tourism destinations using a mall-intercept method and analyzed using co-variance-based structural equation modelling. Of the 13 proposed hypotheses, nine were significant, with variances explained ranging from 17 to 48%. These findings make a meaningful contribution to the literature and present crucial insights and actionable strategies for tourist stakeholders.

Towards the Wall or the Bridge? A Case Study of Host–Guest Symbiosis in a Chinese Heritage Tourism Site

The close connection between community residents and tourists in heritage tourism sites strengthens the relationship between people and places. To explore the mechanisms of host–guest interaction and the driving factors of residents’ willingness to participate in tourism in heritage tourism destinations, this study adopts a mixed-method approach combining qualitative research and quantitative analysis. The results of the study show that host–guest symbiosis in heritage tourism destinations goes through four stages: identity qualification, bodily co-presence, common focus, and emotional solidarity. Quantitative research (SEM) reveals the impact of residents’ welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding towards tourists on the sense of community belonging, as well as the subsequent response of willingness to participate in tourism. Through the analysis of the host–guest interaction mechanisms and symbiotic relationships in heritage tourism sites, the key emotional factors influencing residents’ participation in tourism are revealed.

A systematic review of residents’ perceptions towards tourism development in ethnic tourism contexts

ABSTRACT Ethnic tourism, an indispensable component of global tourism, has gained increasing scholarly attention recently. Despite the well-studied nature of residents’ perceptions, scant literature has scrutinized ethnic residents’ perceptions systematically. Therefore, this review aims to examine the current body of knowledge concerning residents’ perceptions in ethnic tourism contexts and contribute to a generalized conceptual model of residents’ perceptions. Following the PRISMA protocol, a literature search on the Scopus database yielded 1803 records, among which 64 journal articles were proven eligible. The review demonstrated that most residents’ perception studies in ethnic tourism contexts are qualitative, and predominantly conducted in developing countries. Given the distinct ethnic attributes and place-specific circumstances, the sociopolitical dimension has been introduced as the fourth dimension evaluating residents’ positive and negative perceptions jointly with economic, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions in ethnic tourism contexts. Additionally, ethnic values are recognized as a common thread in interpreting non-economic factors influencing residents’ perceptions, like place attachment, emotional solidarity, and perceived conflicts. Apart from the commonly examined support for tourism development and quality of life, citizen behaviours, as a significant consequence, have gained growing academic interest as of late. Correspondingly, some implications and recommendations for future studies are discussed in this review.

The Diversity of Solidarity in South-South Cooperation: A Case of bapa+40

Abstract Solidarity is a focal concept in the literature on South-South Cooperation (ssc). This research examines how solidarity is understood by actors involved in ssc. The literature on ssc is divided into two camps. The first camp believes that ssc is firmly grounded in solidarity. Meanwhile, the second camp holds that ssc is motivated by the state’s interest and that solidarity, if it occurs, is merely an epiphenomenon. However, this paper suggests that both camps fail to realize that the concept of solidarity manifests in different ways. Keeping this diversity in mind, a typology of solidarity based on Enlightenment ideas of liberty is utilized to systematically categorize the plurality of the concept. The typology maintains that solidarity can take shape in the form of Hobbesian self-centered solidarity, Kantian reflexive rational solidarity, Humean reflexive emotional solidarity, and Hegelian recognitive solidarity. This study analyses the Second High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (bapa+40) opening speeches and general debate remarks. Types of solidarity are unmasked by examining 38 statements espoused by states, international organisations, and other entities. The findings show that Kantian solidarity is the most prevalent, followed by Hobbesian, Humean, and Hegelian solidarity. Three observations can be inferred in light of these findings. First, the discourse of solidarity in ssc is diverse and multiple. Second, different understandings of solidarity are not evenly distributed amongst statements made by actors of ssc. Some forms of solidarity are more salient. Third, the idea of solidarity is ambivalent. The four types of solidarity articulated are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they can appear simultaneously in actors’ articulation.

Understanding how tourists with disabilities’ perceptions of residents’ emotional solidarity influence their behavioural intention: the mediating role of perceived fairness

Tourists with disabilities face several constraints when travelling, including interpersonal issues. The intergroup contact theory suggests that intergroup contact can diminish social prejudice. This study aims to understand how tourists with disabilities’ perceptions of residents’ emotional solidarity influence their attitude and behavioural intention towards a destination and the mediating role of perceived fairness. A systematic sampling survey was conducted among 359 tourists with disabilities in China. The results revealed that emotional closeness and sympathetic understanding had a positive effect on perceived fairness and attitude towards the destination, but a welcoming nature affected attitude alone. Ultimately, perceived fairness and the attitude towards the destination impacted behavioural intention. Additionally, the results confirmed the mediating role of perceived fairness between emotional solidarity and behavioural intention. The contribution of this study to accessible tourism research is to provide a model that helps to explain how tourists with disabilities’ psychological mechanisms and behavioural patterns are affected by favourable interpersonal relationships with destinations. In short, it promotes the concept of perceived fairness. The study also argues that greater social inclusion contributes to the quest for good health and well-being (SDG #3), equality (SDG #10), and inclusive and sustainable cities (SDG #11).

Rally-around-the-destination? Changes in host-guest emotional solidarity after crises

Utilizing the political concept of “rally-around-the-flag”, this study takes Jiuzhai Valley as a case to construct a framework of host-guest emotional solidarity and examines the dynamics of such solidarity after an earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic and sentiment analyses are applied to interpret Sina Weibo data and the narratives derived from residents’ interviews as a form of triangulation. Results show that under crisis: (1) host-guest emotional solidarity includes shared beliefs, shared emotions, and interactive behaviors; (2) the short-term rally effect is emotion-driven and depends on “we-ness” relationships, emotional empathy, and place identity; (3) the long-term rally effect is value-driven and emerges when host-guest emotional empathy develops into value resonance through resource integration and relationship reconstruction. The results have implications for emotional solidarity theory and destination recovery in times of crisis.

Nostalgic tourists acquiring resilience and emotional solidarity through self-congruity and functional congruity

From the perspective of stimulus–organism–response theory (S-O-R), this study explores whether self-congruity and functional congruity cause tourists to form positive nostalgic emotions toward heritage destinations and whether the nostalgic emotions elicited by tourists’ experiences at heritage destinations promote their physical and mental health resilience, as well as their emotional solidarity with local residents. Data were collected from Daxi Old Street, Lukang Old Street, and Anping Old Street, located in northern, central, and southern Taiwan, respectively. A total of 959 respondents were collected. The research results reveal that self-congruity and functional congruity positively impact tourists’ nostalgic emotions in heritage destinations. Product involvement does not moderate self-congruity's effect on nostalgia, but it does moderate functional congruity's impact. The study also supports the positive influence of nostalgic emotions on both tourist resilience and emotional solidarity in heritage tourism. These findings are crucial for governments and stakeholders planning and managing heritage tourist destinations.

South Korean DMZ tourists’ experience co-creation explained by motivation, interaction, and emotional solidarity

Despite the military and political tensions surrounding the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), over 1.2 million individuals visit the destination each year. Considering various tourist motivations and the group-oriented tour setting at the DMZ and employing the Interaction Ritual Theory as a theoretical guide, this study examined how South Korean DMZ tourists' motivations and interaction led to emotional solidarity, thereby facilitating the co-creation of their DMZ experience. Study results (N = 409) revealed that politics and curiosity motivations significantly influenced their interaction, while knowledge and war motivations only impacted emotional solidarity. Emotional solidarity directly contributed to experience co-creation, whereas interaction only had an indirect impact mediated through emotional solidarity. The findings enrich the understanding of the distinctive roles of South Korean DMZ tourists' motivations and highlight interaction as a key in evaluating their experience co-creation. It especially offers new insights that emotional solidarity is a critical antecedent to experience co-creation. The findings provide government officials and destination managers with practical suggestions for further management and marketing of DMZ tourism. Future research can further consider group differences when testing the conceptual model—such as DMZ tourists' travel pattern (e.g., individuals or groups) or nationality (e.g., South Korean or foreigners)—and utilize qualitative research methods to complement the quantitative findings.

The influence of place attachment and emotional solidarity on residents’ involvement in tourism: perspectives from Orlando, Florida

PurposeUsing the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model as a theoretical guide, this study employed a conceptual model involving residents’ place attachment (S) to the destination in which they live and emotional solidarity with tourists (O) as precursors to their involvement in tourism (R). The purpose of this paper is threefold: To determine (1) whether residents’ place attachment explains their emotional solidarity with tourists, (2) if emotional solidarity is an effective predictor of residents’ involvement in tourism planning and development and (3) if emotional solidarity dimensions mediate the relationship between place attachment and involvement.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 378 permanent resident heads of households living in, or adjacent to, central Orlando, using a self-administered survey with a census-guided systematic sampling method. Data were subjected to tests of normality and common method bias, followed by a two-step confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.FindingsSeven of the 11 proposed model hypotheses were supported, with moderate variances explained in each of the four outcome variables: welcoming nature (R2 = 19.3%), emotional closeness (R2 = 24.5%), sympathetic understanding (R2 = 39.4%) and involvement (R2 = 36.8%). Though both place identity and place dependence (as two dimensions of place attachment) were partial mediators, the former proved to be more pronounced.Originality/valueThis study employed non-economic measures—place attachment and emotional solidarity—in determining residents’ involvement in tourism within their community. Such an approach provides fresh insights into how such symbolic constructs can contribute to residents’ positive, actionable involvement in tourism. This research is one of the few that have incorporated emotional solidarity as a construct within the SOR model and the first to examine the indirect effects (through mediation) of emotional solidarity.

Mental health and well-being in tourism scholarship: a Horizon 2050 paper

Purpose This study aims to assess extant research streams to delineate new research directions for tourism stakeholders’ mental health and well-being. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive review of the literature on various topics related to mental health, well-being, memorable experiences, emotions, community well-being, wellness tourism and sustainable development was conducted. Findings Several research directions for different research subjects were identified: tourists employees, and the community. For tourists, the research topics included mental health, well-being, memorable experiences and wellness tourism. For research on employees, the focus included their mental health, psychological well-being and negative emotions. In studying the role of tourism in community mental health and well-being, research has explored community well-being and emotional solidarity and used a capital approach. This study discusses several new research directions based on past research trends, global trends and other relevant factors. Originality/value This conceptual study can help understand the new holistic research landscape of mental health and well-being.

Amending the Emotional Solidarity Theoretical Framework Through the Addition of Perceived Similarity, Empathy, and Narcissism

ABSTRACT As tourism rebounds globally, a growing need persists to understand the complex social dynamics between residents and tourists and how these dynamics shape residents’ support for the industry. By employing an amended theory of emotional solidarity, this study examined factors affecting residents’ solidarity and how that translates to pro-tourism behaviour. Data were collected from 438 residents in Fiji and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modelling. Of Woosnam’s original antecedents—shared beliefs and interaction—were positively related to the two dimensions of emotional solidarity (communality and fairness); whereas shared behaviour was only positively associated with communality. Two dimensions of empathy (affective and cognitive) were positively associated with both emotional solidarity dimensions. Narcissism was negatively related to communality. A positive association was found between narcissism and the fairness dimension of solidarity, despite hypothesizing a negative relationship. Finally, both the communality and fairness dimensions of solidarity significantly explained residents’ pro-tourism behavioural intentions.

The role of emotional solidarity–driven tourists’ nostalgia in shaping advocacy intentions

PurposeExamining emotional solidarity that drives tourists’ nostalgia has received significant attention, offering valuable insights that can aid in the selection of a travel destination. However, tourists’ nostalgia, along with its antecedents—perceived safety risk and emotional solidarity, has gained less attention within the setting of Pakistan. Therefore, this research has been carried out and validated a research framework using the stimulus-organism-response model to investigate the links between perceived safety risk, emotional solidarity—welcoming nature, emotional closeness, sympathetic understanding, perceived nostalgia, and destination advocacy intentions. In addition, this model employed destination attachment—place identity and place dependence—as a boundary condition on the relationships between emotional solidarity and advocacy intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 545 responses through two methods: offline distribution of print copies of the questionnaire and online surveys from domestic tourists who visited scenic destinations last year. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 26, and the PROCESS macro was conducted using IBM SPSS 28.FindingsThe findings highlighted that perceived safety risk negatively influences emotional solidarity—welcoming nature, emotional closeness, sympathetic understanding—, resulting in a positive effect on perceived nostalgia. Furthermore, tourists’ perceived nostalgia positively triggers advocacy intentions. The findings also confirmed the boundary conditions of destination attachment—place identity and place dependence—on the association between emotional solidarity and perceived nostalgia.Practical implicationsThree major practical implications of these findings: First, ensuring visitor safety with smart security measures, digital tools for quick response, and local community involvement. Second, highlighting local markets, art, and architecture to enrich cultural experiences and promote accessibility and diversity. Finally, using marketing to generate nostalgic experiences through local collaborations, professional storytelling, and engaging social media content to build emotional ties and curiosity.Originality/valueIn terms of originality, this is pioneering research intended at developing and validating the model in the context of Pakistani destinations. Furthermore, this marks the initial step in examining the proposed relationships between perceived safety risk and emotional solidarity in fostering tourists' perceived nostalgia, ultimately leading to a strong desire to advocate for the destination.