Travel Motivations Research Articles

TRAVEL MOTIVATIONS OF DOMESTIC TOURISTS TO PENANG, MALAYSIA

The services provided by those operating in the tourism industry, including destination managers, tourism strategists and tourism distributors, can be improved through a good understanding of the factors which prompt tourists to travel, or to opt for particular destinations. This study delves into the push and pull (P&P) theory, to identify the travel motivations (TMs) of domestic tourists, who visit the Malaysian state of Penang. A survey involving the participation of 504 domestic tourists, revealed these TMs as: (a) the natural sights and cultural experiences presented, (b) the gourmet dining and shopping attractions available, as well as (c) the quality tourist support infrastructure and services provided. It is our recommendation, that the findings derived through this investigation, be taken into consideration by local government officials and players in the Penang tourism industry, to enhance the quality of the tourism products available, as well as to promote the tourism products deemed most attractive to visitors.

The Impact of On-line Advertising on Tourist Motivation to Travel and Ethical Tourist Behavior

Tourism is a significant cultural, social, and economic activity where individuals travel to different locations or countries outside of their usual environment. This involves spending money for various purposes such as business, leisure, and other activities, resulting in tourism expenditures (UNWTO 2021). The Internet, particularly the World Wide Web, has revolutionized social interactions and cultural experiences, shaping a new era of connectivity (Moradkhani, 2014). The travel industry has evolved with the rise of online advertising as a potent tool for attracting potential travelers. This research aims to explore the impact of online advertising on tourists' motivation to visit Egypt and their ethical conduct within the Egyptian tourism context, focusing on beach tourism in Red Sea resorts. An empirical study involving a substantial sample of 417 participants is presented, detailing the research methodology and its connections to ensure the study's credibility. Quantitative methods were used in this study to test the hypotheses. Data was collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)-26.0 software, utilizing various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings of this study indicate several distinctions. While Facebook advertising has shown some influence on tourists' ethical behavior, it is not the sole determining factor. Perceived sociocultural factors do not significantly impact ethical behavior, suggesting that these aspects may not heavily shape tourists' ethical conduct. However, perceived sociocultural factors do play a partial role in influencing travel motivation. This indicates that sociocultural aspects may influence people's travel motivations, but other factors may also be involved. Online Facebook advertising has a lasting impact on travel motivation. This shows that Facebook ads can have a positive impact on people's desire to travel. Online advertising on Facebook has a lasting impact on sociocultural aspects. This means that Facebook ads can influence people's perceptions of socio-cultural factors related to travel. Sociocultural factors play an important role in the impact of Facebook advertising on ethical behavior. This means that while sociocultural aspects may play a role in the relationship between Facebook advertising and ethical behavior, there are other factors as well. Sociocultural factors play an important role in the impact of Facebook advertising on travel motivation. This suggests that sociocultural aspects may influence the relationship between Facebook advertising and people's travel motivations, but other factors may also play a role. These results indicate that Facebook advertising has a significant impact on travel motivation and sociocultural aspects. However, other factors also influence ethical behavior, and the role of sociocultural aspects in mediating this relationship is not clearly defined. Additional research is needed to understand these relationships more fully. This study provides a valuable theoretical contribution by enhancing the current body of literature on tourist visit intentions. It offers a deeper insight into the motivational factors that impact the travel decision- making process, thereby enriching our knowledge in the field of tourism behavior research and tourism decision- making literature. Furthermore, it addresses gaps in empirical research on tourist behavior patterns in economically and culturally diverse countries.

Does user-generated video content motivate individuals to visit a destination? A non-visitor typology

Νon-visitors comprise a lucrative but underexplored segment in the tourism literature. This study fills a research gap on non-visitors by proposing a new typology contributing to a better understanding of their travel motivations and intentions to visit or not a destination, after being exposed to user-generated video content online. Semi-structured in-depth interviews facilitated via two tourist videos of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, available on YouTube, were conducted with 31 Indonesians and 30 British non-visitors. Findings indicate the presence of five types of non-visitors based on travel motivations: neophiles, nationalists, narcissists, volunteers, and reluctant non-goers. The study contributes to a better understanding of non-visitors’ motivations across different cultures and sheds some light on how user-generated video content shapes visit intentions among those who have never visited a destination. In practical terms, the study offers prudent knowledge on enhancing the possibility that non-visitors will turn into goers.

The influence of social media content on attitude, destination image and intention of female Muslim travelers to visit halal destinations: comparison between UGC and FGC

Purpose This study aims to investigate how user-generated content (UGC) and firm-generated content (FGC) in social media affect attitudes toward halal tourism destinations, destination image and visit intentions among female Muslim (Muslimah) travelers. It also examines the role of travel habits as the moderating variable. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore the motivation of Muslimah travelers to visit halal destinations. The survey was completed by 284 Indonesian Muslimah respondents who had visited halal tourism destinations in Indonesia. The SEM-PLS statistical technique was used to verify the associations between variables. Findings This study’s findings offer valuable insights for both theoretical understanding and practical applications. They suggest that both UGC and FGC significantly predict attitudes toward halal tourism and destination image, thereby influencing the visiting intentions of Muslimah travelers. Although UGC does not directly influence visiting intentions, it does play a significant role in shaping visiting intentions through its mediating effect on attitudes toward halal tourism destinations. In addition, the results indicate that habit positively moderates the relationship between attitudes toward halal tourism and visiting intentions. Originality/value This research contributes uniquely and significantly in two aspects. First, it merges the TIB with the TPB to elucidate the decision-making process of Muslimah travelers when selecting halal destinations. This integration illuminates new insights into the intentions of Muslimah tourists. Second, this study examines the respective influences of UGC and FGC on the visiting intentions of Muslimah travelers to halal tourism destinations. By comparing UGC and FGC, the research provides valuable insights into the decision-making processes of Muslimah tourists. Given Indonesia’s status as home to the largest Muslim population globally, this study offers a novel perspective on the traveling behavior of Muslimahs and practical recommendations for the Indonesian tourism sector in the establishment and promotion of Muslim-friendly destinations within the country.

Short breaks and micro vacations: scale development and validation of micro vacation motivation

Purpose In view of the rapid growth of micro vacation trend in post-pandemic era, this study aims to identify the underlying motivational factors for micro vacation by developing and validating a measurement scale, while explore the influence of micro vacation motivation on travel intention. Design/methodology/approach This research adopts mixed methods. Nine dimensions with 38 items are initially yielded through extensive literature review and in-depth interview (n = 22). Expert panel review filters the scale into eight dimensions with 35 items. Principal component analysis (n = 376) purifies the measures into a 35-item and seven-dimension scale, further confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (n = 616). Nomological validity test (n = 694) proved the positive effect of micro vacation motivation on travel intention. Findings The results present a measurement scale of micro vacation motivation and reveals its seven dimensions: self-presentation, spiritual satisfaction, bonding, convenience, sense of rituals, place attachment and perceived risk. All the motivational factors positively influence travel intention for a micro vacation. Practical implications Through profound comprehension of micro vacationers’ travel motivation, destination marketers and tourism providers can better design their products based on vacationers’ needs while stimulate potential market’s visiting intention by diverse marketing activities. Originality/value This study enriches the literature of micro vacation tourism and deepens the knowledge of travel motivation, filling the research gap of tourists’ motivation in micro vacation market.

Nikolai Leskov’s Eccentric Wanderers and the Tradition of Religious Wandering in Russia

The motif of travel has always been popular, and the metaphor of life as a path remains extremely powerful. Both seem to be especially important within Christian culture because of the image of Christ the Wanderer, who “has no place to lay his head”, an image that influenced the growing popularity of pilgrimages and religiously motivated wandering. The latter became particularly widespread in Russian culture and resulted in numerous representations of wandering people in Russian art and literature. In my article, I focus on literary representations of wanderers in the oeuvre of Nikolai Leskov, whose works are abundant with these types of characters. I argue that the writer portrays his wanderers as ambivalent eccentrics who combine elements characteristic of diverse types of travelers, both religious and secular. To prove my hypothesis, I combine traditional literary analysis of Leskov’s texts with the examination of cultural and religious practices of Russian wandering. As I demonstrate, the complexity and multifacetedness of the writer’s wanderers correspond with Russian reality, where the boundary between pilgrims and vagrants was also blurred.

How multifaceted trust influences travel intention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Tourist trust is a crucial determinant of travel behavior amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a thorough investigation of the multidimensional trust structure and the diverse impacts of each sub-dimension on travel behavior during COVID-19 is currently under-researched. To fill this gap, this study proposed a two-level, five-dimensional trust construct and further examined its impact on risk perception and travel intention. The moderating effect of travel motivation was also examined. Using data from 634 online survey participants in China, we conducted a hierarchical regression analysis and found that interpersonal, government, and enterprise trust are negatively associated with prospective tourists’ risk perception, which in turn increases travel intention. Moreover, high-level travel motivation enhances the negative influence of most multifaceted trust dimensions on risk perception while attenuating the negative influence of risk perception on travel intention. Our results have theoretical and managerial implications.

Beyond fear and safety: revenge travel and international tourists’ intentions in the post-crisis era

Purpose This study aims to investigate the evolving travel intentions of tourists in the aftermath of the relaxation of international mobility restrictions in 2022. It aims to understand how the concept of “revenge travel” – travelling with the intent to make up for lost time during crisis periods – impacts tourists' travel intentions in the post-crisis era. Design/methodology/approach Employing a quantitative approach, the study uses Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Data were collected through a survey of 320 respondents in 2022. This methodology enables a comprehensive understanding of travel intentions, including motivations, perceptions of destination safety and the influence of revenge travel. Findings The findings reveal that revenge travel is a significant predictor of travel intentions post-crisis. The results indicate that tourists are less concerned with health and safety and are more driven by the desire to compensate for lost travel opportunities. This shift suggests that travel intentions in the post-crisis era are not predominantly fear-induced. The study also offers insights into how these intentions can inform the recovery and sustainable planning of the tourism industry. Originality/value This paper recognises the impact of revenge travel on travel intentions following the lifting of crisis-related mobility restrictions. It provides novel insights into tourists' post-crisis travel behaviour, extending the understanding of travel motivations in extraordinary circumstances. The findings are valuable for tourism practitioners and researchers, offering guidance for future tourism development and marketing strategies within a post-crisis context.

How do temporal psychological distance and grandiose narcissism affect tourists’ travel motivation and attraction visit intention?

How do temporal psychological distance and grandiose narcissism affect tourists’ travel motivation and attraction visit intention?

Campsite attributes, travel motivations and behavioral intentions: Basis to enhance camping tourism experience

Campsite attributes, travel motivations and behavioral intentions: Basis to enhance camping tourism experience

The ease of travel: A person-based measure of people’s ability to travel

In this paper I present the concept of “ease of travel”. Ease of travel (EoT) refers to how easily people can travel given their travel motivation, travel skills, travel options, and travel quality. EoT may differ by mode and influence people’s travel behaviour, participation in out-of-home activities and experience of travel. EoT differs from the commonly used (perceived) accessibility concept, which mainly focuses on activity destinations and (perceptions towards) built environment characteristics. EoT, on the other hand, focuses on travel and highlights personal abilities and motivations for travel. It may provide valuable insights in people’s travel behaviour intentions and can help in creating more sustainable travel patterns, but also in stimulating better access to out-of-home activities and generating satisfying travel, thereby improving people’s subjective well-being. EoT may serve as a user-friendly and policy-relevant tool to assess people’s ability to travel. In this paper, a conceptual framework is presented and measures of EoT are tested using a sample of 2,593 University students and staff. Results suggest that a subdivision of EoT in four elements is reliable. Finally, I also present avenues for further research.

A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE THROUGH THE PAST: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS ON WOMEN TRAVELERS

The research explores the progress of studies on women travelers, examining publication trends, top contributors, collaborations, and thematic areas, while also exploring ways to make travel more convenient. For the achievement of these research questions, a bibliometric analysis has been conducted using data from the articles published in 41 journals dating from 1982 to 2023. For bibliometric analysis, collected data was analyzed with descriptive analysis, science mapping as bibliographic coupling, citation metrics, prestige analysis, keyword co-occurrence metrics; and network analysis as co-author analysis and co-citation analysis. The study reveals the top ten authors, organizations, and countries in women traveler-related literature, but a low total publication count suggests the need for comprehensive research. Five major themes that emerged were Women Travelers and Solo Travel, Women Travelers and Travel Motivation, Women Travelers and Purchase Intention, Women Travelers and Girlfriend Getaways, and Women Travelers, and Sexual Behaviour. The study identifies research gaps for future studies and suggests managerial actions to make women's travel more convenient. The study's values lie in enhancing the understanding of women traveler research, raising awareness of research frontiers, and guiding future directions in business travel niche market segments.

Priming tourists with traditional gastronomic delicacies: embracing a responsible approach towards sustainable consumption practice

PurposeAmidst the rising awareness of sustainable consumption, this study aims to delve into the dimensions shaping individuals' preferences for traditional gastronomic delicacies taking an emerging economy’s perspective, India.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research methodology in the form of a Grounded Theory Approach is used to develop theories. Important dimensions that drive attitude and intention towards experiencing traditional gastronomic delicacies are explored. Based on literary inputs and qualitative study, a research framework is developed and empirically validated thereon with SEM analysis using SPSS-AMOS.FindingsDrawing on the Theory of Consumption Values and Stakeholder Theory, key influencers (consumption values) of traditional gastronomic delicacies were identified as Travel Motivation (Functional Values), Tourist Expectations (Emotional Values), Socio-economic Perspectives (Socio-economic Values), Mindful Consumption Practice (Epistemic Values), Community Awareness (Epistemic Values) and Sustainable Marketing Stimuli (Conditional Values).Practical implicationsThis research has a multifaceted impact. At the macro-level, it supports stakeholders in Gastronomic Tourism (GT) – marketers, regional tourism bodies, policymakers and tour operators with distinct consumer values – in crafting regional culinary tourism, influencing economic policies and advocating for cultural conservation. At the micro-level, it aids scholars in initiating future research to elevate dining experiences, promote consumer education and tackle health and nutritional aspects within the evolving gastronomic industry.Originality/valueThis study makes a novel attempt to explore important drivers, categorizing the drivers into distinct consumer values that influence tourists and food connoisseurs towards traditional gastronomic delicacies by blending an innovative qualitative research methodology like grounded theory approach supported by the empirical validation process (quantitative). Additionally, it proposes a theoretical framework for future advancement of gastronomic literature.

The moderating role of e‐word of mouth in the relationships between destination source credibility, awareness, attachment, travel motivation, and travel intention: A case study of Vietnamese film tourism

AbstractBy adopting stimulus‐organism‐response theory, this study aims to investigate the role of destination source credibility, destination awareness, destination attachment, travel motivation, and e‐word of mouth (e‐WOM) in shaping audiences' travel intentions to visit locations depicted in movies or film series. A quantitative survey is conducted with 523 Vietnamese tourists, collecting their opinions on movie/film destinations. The findings highlight the significant influence of destination source credibility and travel motivation on destination attachment, further impacting travel intention. Additionally, the study reveals the effects of destination awareness, motivation, and attachment on travel intention. Notably, e‐WOM moderates the relationships between destination source credibility, travel intention, and destination attachment and travel intention. The study provides theoretical and practical implications, offering insights and suggestions for future research in the field.

Incidental negative emotions and tourist destination preferences: A choice model during lockdown

AbstractIncidental and discrete emotions can influence tourist decision‐making and their preferences for destinations with different types of attractions and activities. In this explorative study, we apply a choice model and the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion to examine the influence of those negative emotions that emerged during Australia's lockdown on tourists' anticipated destination preferences. We find that negative emotions were influenced by both pre‐lockdown emotions and lockdown conditions. Negative emotions exert a significant impact on tourists' selection of destinations and influence their attitudes toward social distancing measures. Travel motivations and gender also affect tourist preferences. Finally, we address the theoretical implications of this study regarding the impact of incidental emotions on travel preferences and make practical suggestions to practitioners on providing targeted products and adjusting management and marketing strategies.

더우인 여행 쇼트 클립이 실버노인의 여행의도에 미치는 영향

With the advancement of digital and information technology, along with the increasing prevalence of internet access, the use of mobile social platforms among the elderly has been on the rise. However, research on the elderly population in the tourism sector remains relatively scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of Douyin travel short clips on the travel motivation and intention of the elderly, focusing on the elderly population in China. Specifically, the study seeks to address the following research questions: First, what influence do the characteristics of Douyin travel short clips on social platforms have on the travel motivation of the elderly? Second, how does the travel motivation of the elderly in China affect their travel intention? To address these questions, a structural equation model will be constructed with the characteristics of Douyin travel short clips, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and travel intention. The analysis revealed that all variables have a significant positive (+) impact on each other. Consequently, this study combines motivation theory and planned behavior theory to analyze the travel intention of the elderly in China, enriching the research on travel intention among the elderly population. Through this research, theoretical knowledge can be verified and expanded, leading to a better understanding of tourism behavior among the elderly. Additionally, it can assist social platform service providers and travel-related companies in developing digital marketing and service strategies targeting the elderly population. Moreover, it can also be utilized to improve travel-related programs and policies targeting the elderly, providing practical significance.

Understanding Film Fan Tourism: An Inventory of 15 Years of Research

The first studies of film and television as inducers of tourism appeared in the 1990s. From the outset, research in this area has identified a diverse range of tourist profiles, highlighting the fact that audiovisual media fans constitute an important segment of the tourism market because fan consumers dedicate considerable amounts of time, money, and energy to pursuing their specific interest. As a result, academic researchers have developed a substantial body of knowledge in this field over a relatively short period. The objective of this article is to offer a critical review of studies that have enhanced our understanding of film fan tourists to identify critical gaps in knowledge and, consequently, propose new ways to fully integrate the fan perspective into studies of audiovisual fiction-induced tourism. To this end, all the articles dealing with this specific tourist profile indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar (49) have been identified and analysed based on their year of publication, geographical location, type of audiovisual production studied, methodology adopted and composition of the sample, major research themes and main theoretical and/or practical contributions. This review of the literature on film fan tourists finds that our understanding of the specific characteristics of the profile and behaviour of this type of tourist is still limited. This is due to some extent on the lack of consensus on the definition of the concept of “fans”, which has led to the erroneous classification of tourists whose travel motivation has nothing to do with a film and/or television production—and who may not even be fans of that production—as film fan tourists. The recommendations of this review thus focus mainly on reaching a consensus on the definition of the concept and establishing a single set of selection criteria for future research

Role of Attitude Toward Destination on the Relationship between Travel Motivation, Destination Image, Risk Perception, and Rural Tourism

Role of Attitude Toward Destination on the Relationship between Travel Motivation, Destination Image, Risk Perception, and Rural Tourism

Study on the Relationship between Elderly Tourism Motivation and Active Aging: A Case Study of Elderly Population in First-tier Cities of China

This paper explores active aging by examining elderly tourism through the lenses of existential theory, the broaden-and-build theory, and the circular theory. It investigates the travel motivations of the elderly in tourism scenarios, integrating factors such as positive thinking, positive behavior, and a positive organizational environment into the research. A path model was constructed to analyze how active aging influences travel motivations in a tourism context, supported by empirical analysis using 337 valid samples. The study found that key dimensions of active aging influencing elderly travel motivations include positive behavior, positive thinking, and a positive organizational environment. The path model and research data show good compatibility and explanatory power regarding the impact of active aging on travel motivations. Positive thinking, positive behavior, and a positive organizational environment all positively affect the travel motivations of the elderly. In the path analysis, positive thinking as an independent variable does not directly influence travel motivations; instead, positive behavior and a positive organizational environment serve as important mediating variables.

Optimizing demand forecasting for business events tourism: a comparative analysis of cutting-edge models

PurposeGiven the unique nature of business events tourism, this paper evaluates the forecasting performance of various models using search query data (SQD) to forecast convention attendance.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses monthly and quarterly business event attendance data from both the U.S. (Las Vegas) and China (Macau) markets. Using SQD as the input, we evaluated and compared the cutting-edge forecasting models including Prophet and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM).FindingsThe study reveals that Prophet outperforms complex neural network models in forecasting business event tourism demand. Keywords related to convention facilities, conventions or exhibitions, and transportation are proven to be useful in forecasting business travel demand.Practical implicationsProphet is an accessible forecasting model for event-tourism practitioners, especially useful in the volatile business event tourism sector. Using verified search keywords in models helps understand traveler motivations and aids event planning.Originality/valueOur study is among the first to empirically evaluate the performance of forecasting models for business travel demand. In comparison with other mainstream forecasting models, our study extends the scope to examine both the U.S. and Chinese markets.