Wellbeing Tourism Research Articles

Enhancing Tourist Well-Being in Jilin Province: The Roles of Eco-Friendly Engagement and Digital Infrastructure

This study fills a research gap by examining how tourist participation, well-being, eco-friendly engagement, and digital infrastructure affect tourism results. We assessed 3692 tourists in Jilin Province, China, using structural equation modeling. We found that tourist participation is directly associated with tourist well-being, and eco-friendly engagement positively mediates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Furthermore, digital infrastructure moderates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Key findings reveal that actively participating in tourism activities considerably increases visitor well-being. Furthermore, eco-friendly behaviors and digital infrastructure may improve tourist well-being and overall experience. These findings may influence many tourist features in the Jilin Province of China. Tourism management should first provide a range of fun and engaging activities to boost tourist well-being. Second, promoting sustainable practices protects the environment and improves visitors’ quality of life. Third, digital infrastructure expenditures support these activities and enhance visitor pleasure. Policymakers should prioritize sustainable tourism. They should employ digital technologies to promote sustainability and improve services. Addressing these concerns may strengthen the country’s economy, sustainable development, and tourism. This study enhances tourist well-being theory by adding eco-friendly interaction, digital infrastructure, and visitor participation. It illuminates the importance of technology, sustainability, and active involvement in producing enjoyable tourist experiences.

Unveiling the nexus between duty-free shopping quality and tourism well-being: an examination of the mediating role of fun experience

ABSTRACT Shopping in duty-free stores plays an increasingly important role in tourism, but few studies have focused on the impact of tourists’ shopping experience and enjoyment on their satisfaction. This study aims to examine how shopping quality affects the well-being of tourists, with a specific focus on the role of fun experience (including hedonic engagement, sense of liberation, and sense of fun) as a mediator. This research fills a gap in the existing literature by carefully analysing how shopping quality and fun experiences enhance tourists’ well-being. A cross-cultural sample was surveyed using quantitative methods to ensure the results were universally applicable. Based on 514 valid questionnaires, the study uses Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the data and draw several conclusions. First, the study finds that shopping quality positively impacts tourists’ fun experience. Second, it confirms that fun experience is a significant source of well-being for tourists. Third, the study shows that fun experiences mediate between shopping quality and well-being. Finally, the research confirms that hedonic engagement and a sense of liberation are foundational to a sense of fun. These findings offer crucial insights for retail managers and marketers in developing strategies to enhance shopping experiences and improve consumer satisfaction and well-being.

Tourist Satisfaction in Kerala Agritourism: Insights from Domestic and International Visitors

Purpose: Tourism has been an essential component of human civilization since the beginning, evolving through various forms, phases, and practices over the centuries. Agritourism is a type of tourism that uses agricultural life as a tourist attraction. It is either agricultural tourism or agricultural marketing. It has the potential to generate additional income and employment for farmers. Agriculture has been a cornerstone of life in Kerala since ancient times, and even in today’s digital era, traditional farming methods remain prevalent among the farming community. It can help to boost local economic development and also helps to preserve biodiversity. Furthermore, rural communities must recognize the value of agricultural biodiversity and the need to protect it. It is important to measure the quality of services offered at the agritourism centre to ensure the operational effectiveness of centres as well as the tourist satisfaction [1]. The study was conducted to assess the level of satisfaction of foreign and domestic tourists in the agritourism destinations. Methodology: Primary survey was conducted among 150 domestic tourists and 150 foreign tourists who visited agritourism centres in Kerala using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Results: The findings indicated low satisfaction with accessibility, disability-friendly environment, telecommunication facilities and medical facilities available at the agritourism center. The low satisfaction level indicates that these elements are not functioning efficiently in agritourism destinations. As mentioned in the earlier discussions, accessibility is vital for the success of agritourism destinations. Most of the tourists were hesitant to revisit the centers because of inadequate accessibility. More than just a practical concern, it is crucial for boosting economic development, enhancing visitor satisfaction, and promoting sustainable agritourism practices. Likewise network connectivity challenges in agritourism centers located in hill areas pose significant obstacles to effective operation and visitor satisfaction. These issues affect communication, emergency response, and financial viability of centres as well as tourists. Medical facilities are essential to agritourism destinations, crucial for safeguarding the well-being of visitors. The agritourism centers are located in remote areas, making it challenging to access hospitals in emergency situations. So having adequate medical services in tourism centers are essential for protecting the health and well-being of tourists. Conclusion: The study assessed the level of satisfaction of foreign and domestic tourists in the agritourism destinations. Visitor satisfaction is critical to the success of agritourism destinations, as it influences visitor loyalty, the destination's reputation, operational improvements, and financial gains. By focusing on providing superior experiences and actively seeking feedback, agritourism operators can enhance their offerings, establish a positive reputation, and foster long-term growth.

Experiencing therapeutic soundscapes in rural tourism destinations

Rural tourism is perceived as an escape from noisy urban settings to tranquil rural environments to improve tourist well-being. However, the dynamics of how tourists engage with and benefit from rural soundscapes, particularly at night when visual stimuli diminish and auditory experiences become more pronounced, remain underexplored. This article investigates the effects of rural soundscapes on tourist well-being throughout different periods of the day. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study reveals that tourists’ experiences of therapeutic rural soundscapes are relational and contextual. Therapeutic rural soundscapes are primarily experienced during nighttime, facilitated by the absence of visual distractions and man-made sounds and the presence of familiar natural and rural sounds, alongside a prevailing sense of safety in the silence and darkness. Nevertheless, the majority of tourists are one-day visitors and thus largely excluded from these therapeutic soundscape experiences, which are overshadowed by visual attractions and the intrusion of man-made sounds. The findings advance the theory of therapeutic sensescapes by revealing the interplay between the senses of vision and hearing in shaping tourists’ safety perceptions and well-being experiences in rural destinations. This study also offers practical implications for enhancing the appeal of rural destinations by improving tourists’ auditory experiences across diverse spatio-temporal contexts.

The Development of Halal Well-Being Experience Quality: A Conceptual Framework

In recent years, the hospitality and tourism industry has increasingly focused on enhancing the well-being of guests by providing tailored experiences that address their physical, mental, and spiritual health. This shift has spurred the development of Halal well-being experiences, specifically designed to cater to Muslim travelers by aligning services and facilities with Islamic principles. Halal well-being experiences include a range of services such as Halal-certified food, prayer facilities, gender-segregated wellness amenities, and activities promoting spiritual health. These offerings are vital for Muslim travelers who seek destinations and accommodations that respect and cater to their faith-based needs. To address these challenges, a comprehensive framework for Halal well-being experience quality is essential. This framework should include clear guidelines for service provision, training programs for staff, and effective marketing strategies. This research aims to explore the current state of Halal well-being experiences in the hospitality industry, identify the key challenges and opportunities, and propose a framework for enhancing service quality. The study provides insights and recommendations for developing and promoting Halal well-being experiences that cater to the needs of Muslim travelers. The research underscores the importance of seven dimensions of tourism experience quality (TEQ) in influencing tourist well-being: Halal hedonism, Muslim-friendly involvement, local culture friendliness, refreshment experience, meaningfulness experience, knowledge experience, and novelty experience. These dimensions collectively enhance the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of Muslim travelers, promoting a holistic approach to well-being in the tourism sector.

Immersion tourism context: scale development and influence mechanism of tourist multiple interactions

ABSTRACT This research aims to clarify the core attributes of tourist multiple interactions, and how it may be possible to promote tourist well-being and citizenship behavior when traveling in an immersion tourism context. A mixed method with two studies was conducted to answer these questions. Study 1 developed and validated a scale for tourist multiple interactions through a mixed qualitative and quantitative research methodology, strictly following the steps of scale development. Survey data were acquired from travel notes, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires in China. The results showed that tourist multiple interactions scale includes 3 dimensions and 18 items, including technology interactions, narrative empathy, and social interaction. To further verify the influence mechanism of scale, study 2 used a survey to explore the effect of tourist multiple interactions from the perspectives of both tourists and destinations. Survey data were acquired from 311 questionnaires in China. The results indicated that tourist multiple interactions were positively associated with well-being and tourist citizenship behavior. Tourist engagement mediated this relationship. Destination familiarity positively moderated the relationships between tourist multiple interactions and tourist engagement. Theoretically, the research provides extensive implications to tourist interaction and immersion tourism; whilst offering some actionable insights to tourism context.

Exploring Chinese Tourists’ Well-Being Through a Confucian Lens: A Multi-Focal Model

ABSTRACT Despite exponential growth in research interest in the psychological benefits derived from travel experiences, existing conceptualizations of well-being in tourism predominantly adopt Western perspectives. This conceptual paper proposes a multifocal model for understanding tourist well-being through a Confucian lens. By comparing the five cardinal Confucian virtues with Aristotelian well-being perspectives, this multidimensional framework integrates traditional and modern well-being insights, depicting eleven dimensions of Chinese tourists’ psychological well-being. This manuscript contributes a multi-focal model of Chinese tourist well-being, which extends the traditional one-dimensional Confucian perspectives on well-being toward a two-dimensional framework which includes eudaimonic and hedonic aspects. Future studies should conduct empirical work designed to clarify conceptual and terminological ambiguity and advance discourse on the integration of Eastern perspectives into the study of tourist well-being.

Effect of intergenerational relationships in daily life on travel behaviors of adult children and parents: A comparative study of the two generations’ perspectives

The aging population is becoming a growing concern worldwide, and adult child-parent travel plays a positive role in active aging. Previous studies on family travel with aging parents focused on adult children's perceptions of conflicts during travel, neglecting the influences of daily intergenerational relationships on pre-travel and post-travel behaviors. This study builds upon the solidarity-conflict model to investigate the effects of daily intergenerational relationships on pre-travel (e.g., travel motivation) and post-travel behaviors (e.g., satisfaction and well-being) of family tourists who have engaged in adult child-parent travel. Empirical findings reveal that solidarity is crucial in determining travel motivation, satisfaction, and subjective well-being, while conflict only significantly influences travel motivation. Further comparisons between the views of adult children and parents disclose differing effects of conflict on travel motivation and satisfaction, as well as how the influence of solidarity on satisfaction varies by generation. This study enhances our understanding of the spillover effect of daily intergenerational solidarity and conflict on family travel behavior and offers practical insights.

Medical tourist perceptions of hospitality across cultures

PurposeThis study aims to explore how the treatment, well-being and satisfaction of health tourists are affected by what is characterized as the hospitality culture of health care.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research design focusing on in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted with 28 Omani health tourists who visited Iran and received health-care services. Data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti software.FindingsThe results revealed that a caring health professional is essential for patient healing and well-being. Cultural congruence is enhanced through effective communication between patients and health-care service providers. Additionally, a hospitality-certified workforce is essential for customer satisfaction and overall well-being. Finally, a hospitality-style approach and home-like atmosphere improve patient rehabilitation and performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s exclusive focus on Omani health tourists necessitates caution in generalizing findings. Future research could encompass more diverse populations and inclusive samples to broaden applicability.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the key role of hospitality culture in the health-care sector, emphasizing the significance of building a culturally sensitive and hospitable environment to improve patient satisfaction and overall well-being. This includes the creation of welcoming environments and customized health-care experiences congruent with patients’ cultural values and beliefs.Originality/valueThe study emphasizes the crucial role of hospitality culture in health tourism and the potential to create a culture of care and respect in health-care settings, addressing patients’ holistic needs beyond physical amenities and enriching the patient experience. It also applies Leininger’s Culture Care Theory to hospitality, providing a novel viewpoint on culturally congruent, safe and meaningful care for health tourists.

Wellness tourism experience and destination brand love

ABSTRACT This study assessed various aspects of the wellness tourism experience in Thailand. A survey was conducted with a sample of 420 Chinese tourists. The findings revealed significant and insignificant effects of the wellness tourism experience on the development of destination brand love. Additionally, it confirmed that barriers and destination familiarity play a vital role in shaping tourists’ responses and strengthening their affinity towards the destination brand. The results highlight tourists’ focus on comprehensive experiences rather than external dynamics like weather. This study suggests collaboration among stakeholders to enrich the overall travel experience and prioritize the emotional wellbeing of tourists.

Mindfulness and the psychological well-being of mountain tourists: Sequential mediating effects of spirituality and awe

Few studies have investigated the mechanism underlying the relationship between mindfulness and the psychological well-being (PWB) of mountain tourists. In this study, we examined the relationships among mindfulness, spirituality, awe, and PWB. We also explored the roles of spirituality and awe in mediating the relationship between mindfulness and PWB. Specifically, we surveyed 412 mountain tourists and analyzed their responses using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that the direct effect of mindfulness on PWB was not significant. Spirituality and awe were the underlying mechanisms that fully mediated the relationship between mindfulness and PWB. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that mindfulness contributed to PWB through the indirect and sequential mediating effects of spirituality and awe. This study contributes to the literature by identifying two mediating variables (i.e., spirituality and awe) and clarifying how mindfulness influences PWB in mountain tourism. The implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are also addressed.

Tourist Values and Well-Being in Rural Tourism: Insights from Biodiversity Protection and Rational Automobile Use in Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

In response to the escalating significance of sustainable tourism and the growing global concern for environmental conservation, the current study sought to investigate the intricate dynamics of two pro-environmental behaviors (biodiversity protection and rational car use), personal values (altruistic, biospheric, and egoistic), farm tourists’ well-being, and environmental and activity attachment among farm tourists in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia. Employing an online survey, our methodology involved partial least structural equation modeling to unravel the complex relationships among these variables. Based on responses retrieved from 309 farm tourists, results revealed that biodiversity protection significantly influenced altruistic values and the well-being of farm tourists. Additionally, rational automobile use exerted positive impacts on both altruistic and biospheric values. These results underscore the intricate dynamics shaping tourists’ attitudes and experiences in the Al-Ahsa region. The study contributes to the broader understanding of sustainable tourism practices, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. The positive associations identified highlight the potential for farm tourism experiences to enhance both pro-environmental values and the well-being of tourists, thus offering valuable insights for future research and sustainable tourism initiatives.

Unlocking the gateway to tourist well-being: the Triple-A model of engagement in tourism experiences

ABSTRACT Engagement in tourist experiences is essential for destination development. However, how tourist engagement generates positive psychological outcomes, such as tourist well-being, remains underexplored. Consequently, drawing on an interpretivist paradigm, this study conducts in-depth focus groups with 23 tourism professionals to explore the mechanism through which engagement in tourism experiences is enhanced and subsequently influences tourist well-being. Findings indicate three key pull factors (accessible facilities, available information and accomplished services) which enable tourists to negotiate intrapersonal barriers, fostering behavioral, cognitive and emotional engagement in tourism experiences. With the accumulation of multidimensional engagement experiences, tourists reaped enhanced tourist well-being. A Triple-A model is developed from this study to depict the dynamic connection among the pull factors of tourist engagement, intrapersonal barriers negotiation and tourist well-being. Future studies should seek to strengthen emerging empirical evidence which can inform policy intervention designed to demonstrate the efficacy of tourism experiences for enhancing tourist well-being.

Humorous or serious? The interaction effect of language style and tourism activity type on tourist well-being

Promoting Well-being is one of United Nations’ sustainable development goals and it also attracts increasing attentions in tourism research. Based on the stereotype content model (SCM), this study examines the interaction effect of service employees’ language style and tourism activity type on tourist well-being. The mediating effects of perceived pleasure and perceived professionalism is also studied. The theoretical value of this paper is two-fold: First, it is the first study of the adaptability of tourism activities to different language styles and of how this adaptability difference affects tourist hedonia and eudaimonia. The discovery of the interaction effect between tourism activity type and language style also provides a legitimate explanation for resolving the contradiction between humour and seriousness in previous studies. Second, this study sheds new light on the stereotype content model. It introduces two new constructs—perceived pleasure and professionalism and reveals their mediation effect in the interaction effect. These constructs support affective and cognitive evaluations of social judgments. Our findings have important implications for tourism practitioners who seek to develop effective service strategies to enhance tourist well-being and thus promote sustainable tourism.

Psychological well-being from virtual tourism: a mixed method approach

ABSTRACT Virtual tourism, utilizing digital immersive technologies, enriches sensory perceptions and triggers physiological and cerebral responses, which builds upon physical travel-related undertakings, either on-site or off-site. This study conducted a grounded theory analysis, combining electroencephalogram (EEG) experiments and interviews in Asia, to unravel the intricate relationship between virtual tourism and participants’ psychological well-being. Our findings reveal that individuals’ well-being encompasses three levels and five dimensions: Natural Harmony (Emotion Refinement & Meaningful Connections), Self-Flourishing (Self-Realizing Gratification & Environmental Mastery), and Detached State (Flow). The study contributes to theorizing and understanding the constituents and mechanism underlying the development of individuals’ psychological well-being through virtual tourism, shedding light on an area largely unexplored in tourism studies. This research informs post-pandemic tourism revival strategies, guides destination imagery reconfiguration, and optimizes service delivery, ensuring alignment with the holistic well-being of tourists.

Re‐thinking tourist wellbeing: An integrative model of affiliation with nature and social connections

AbstractResearch on positive psychological outcomes of tourism has experienced exponential growth. However, a critical dimension of tourist wellbeing, affiliation, remains underexplored and conceptually underdeveloped. This study draws on 26 in‐depth interviews with international tourists to Fiji to explore the influence of affiliation with nature and social connectedness on tourist wellbeing. Findings demonstrate the integral role of travel companionship, tourist affiliation with nature and connection with local people as critical determinants of positive psychological outcomes. An integrative model across the domains of gaze, practice and reflection is developed to demonstrate how affiliation with nature and social connectedness influence tourist wellbeing. Future research should explore the multi‐sensual character and the therapeutic potential of tourist social encounters and interactions with nature and subsequent implications for tourist wellbeing.

Responsible Behaviour and Psychological Well-being in Tourism: The Triple Helix Model

While the conceptually related fields of sustainability and psychological well-being have been informed by extensive research in recent years, efforts to integrate these fields are yet to be systematically advanced. This lack of integration has left the nexus between sustainability and well-being largely underexplored and conceptually underdeveloped. Tourism offers a novel context within which to explore the intersection. Consequently, this paper critically assesses the relationship between sustainability-related decisions and tourist well-being. It is informed by the analysis of thirty semi-structured in-depth interviews that critically explored the holiday experiences of tourists while travelling internationally. Analysis revealed that both responsible and irresponsible tourist behaviours are interconnected with tourists’ psychological well-being and are influenced by external barriers and internal conflicts. Responsible behaviours were found to contribute to eudaimonic well-being through a heightened sense of perceived integrity. Conversely, irresponsible behaviours trigger negative self-appraisals, enacting coping mechanisms and generating guilt. This manuscript presents the triple helix model detailing the complex and interconnected relationship between (ir)responsible behaviour and psychological well-being in tourism experiences. Future research should consider the intricate connections between tourists’ sustainability-related decisions and psychological well-being as central to the developing sustainable tourism research agendas.

Internet interventions and therapies for addressing the negative impact of digital overuse: a focus on digital free tourism and economic sustainability

BackgroundThe excessive use of information technologies (IT) and online digital devices are causing symptoms of burnout, anxiety, stress and dependency that affect the physical and mental health of our society, extending to leisure time and work relationships. Digital free tourism (DFT) is a phenomenon that emerges as a solution to technostress and pathologies derived from digital hyperconnection. The objective of this research is to advance the knowledge of new structures of motivational factors that can understand the decision of a tourist to make a DFT trip. To this end, it is investigated whether family and social engagement and health and relaxation have a positive impact on the behavioral intention of the potential tourist and whether this influences sustainability due to the importance of DFT in the new economic framework.MethodsWith a quantitative approach, the methodology used consisted of an online questionnaire among potential travelers. IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 statistical software was used to evaluate the data obtained and confirm the relationships of the model and the research hypotheses.ResultsThe results of the questionnaire assessed the contribution of each construct to the tourist’s behavioral intention and the tourist’s decision to make the decision to undertake a DFT experience.ConclusionsDFT can be a driver of economic sustainability and health therapy in tourism in the digital age. This study aims to expand the lines of research on DFT and determine the complex factors that can lead a tourist to participate in the DFT experience. The results obtained can help managers of companies in the sector to offer more efficient and sustainable services that contribute to the health and wellbeing of tourists as a differentiating factor.

The Soft Power Synergy: Ayurveda and Yoga in Contemporary Diplomacy

Ayurveda and Yoga which are the part of ancient Indian system of life have become the symbols of India’s soft power diplomacy in international forum. These customs and patterns embody the core values of cultural norms and values and have great implications of enhancing overall health and harmony between the soul and the body. At first, Ayurveda and Yoga play the role of the link and communication between countries in terms of the shared cultural values and ethical standards, which are based on the ideas of health and relaxation. These activities consist of Ayurveda wellness facilities and Yoga diplomacy initiatives to strengthen the two countries’ relations while fostering the levels of consciousness and well-being of the global society. However, in addition to the cultural strategic relations, Ayurveda and Yoga are the other important economic diplomacy of India. The increasing global concern towards natural health remedies makes India, a major exporter of Ayurvedic antibiotics and other well-being products. At the same time, the demand for Yoga generates a lot of business: workshops, professional boot camps, and well-being tourism centres that positively affect India’s economy. Last, between their globalization, Ayurveda and Yoga have faced criticism of cultural imperialism, and between the quality of products and services and their becoming a commodity. India manages these threats through endorsing local culture and ethic, protecting the product originality and fostering proper cultural transfer. Thus, India meets these challenges and raises awareness of Ayurveda and Yoga as an Indian contribution to global health and cultural events and meetings. The abstract signifies how Ayurveda and Yoga symbiotically develop India’s soft power diplomacy, exceeding cultural, social, and economic dynamics. By influencing these old traditions and values, India improves its global impact. It promotes a more interrelated and cordial global society stranded in common and shared values of healthiness, knowledge, and consciousness.

Two birds with one stone: Goal conflict handling and its effect on well-being

A tourist's journey is often shaped by the pursuit of diverse and sometimes conflicting goals. In this study, we investigate how tourists handle conflicting goals during their travels. Drawing upon life history theory, we have developed and tested a conceptual model that examines how life history strategies (LHS, fast vs. slow) influence goal management approaches (highlighting vs. balancing) and their subsequent impact on tourist well-being. Through a combination of surveys, field and lab experiments, and a meta-analysis, our research reveals that when confronted with goal conflicts, tourists with a fast LHS tend to prefer a highlighting approach, while those with a slow LHS gravitate towards a balancing approach, with perceived deservingness serving as a mediator in this relationship. Moreover, matching (vs. mismatching) LHS with goal management enhances overall well-being. These findings offer valuable insights for both theoretical advancement and practical management in tourism.