Share:


Information source and destination choice: mediation of perception of COVID-19 pandemic impacts and perception of destination

    Thi Mai Le Affiliation
    ; My-Trinh Bui   Affiliation

Abstract

The tourism industry has changed at its core in response to the emergence of economic vitality, climate change, and notably the recent COVID-19 outbreak. This study’s objectives are (1) to examine the factors affecting tourists’ destination choices, including their information sources, their perceptions of their destinations, and their perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact and (2) to determine which of these factors play the most critical mediating role (i.e., perception of COVID-19 pandemic impact or perception of destination) in the relationship between information source and destination choice. Data from an online survey data of 645 respondents from Vietnam and MTurk were analyzed using SPSS version 22, Smart PLS 2.0 and Hayes Process 3.5. Our empirical findings suggest that (1) information source positively influences destination choice, (2) perception of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact acts as a key mediator in the relationship between information sources and destination choices, and (3) perception of destination ranked first as the most vital factor in tourists’ destination choices. Our studies also discovered that the relationship from Information sources -> Perception of destination -> Destination choice is the strongest effect on travelers among the three indirect relationship. Our research will be of the greatest benefits to tourism stakeholders or tourism businesses as a foundation for further exploration into consumers’ behavior and attitudes toward destinations and help them to promote efficient emergencyresponse plans.

Keyword : tourists’ destination choices, information sources, perceptions of destinations, perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact

How to Cite
Le, T. M., & Bui, M.-T. (2022). Information source and destination choice: mediation of perception of COVID-19 pandemic impacts and perception of destination. Business: Theory and Practice, 23(2), 266–276. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2022.14852
Published in Issue
Aug 23, 2022
Abstract Views
516
PDF Downloads
448
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Akalamkam, K., & Mitra, J. K. (2018). Consumer pre-purchase search in online shopping: Role of offline and online information sources. Business Perspectives and Research, 6(1), 42–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/2278533717730448

Awaritefe, O. (2004). Motivation and other considerations in tourist destination choice: A case study of Nigeria. Tourism Geographies, 6(3), 303–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461668042000249638

Backer, E., & Ritchie, B. W. (2017). VFR Travel: A viable market for tourism crisis and disaster recovery? International Journal of Tourism Research, 19(4), 400–411. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2102

Barnes, S. J., Mattsson, J., & Sørensen, F. (2014). Destination brand experience and visitor behavior: Testing a scale in the tourism context. Annals of Tourism Research, 48, 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2014.06.002

Barry, J. M. (2004). The site of origin of the 1918 influenza pandemic and its public health implications. Journal of Translational Medicine, 2(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-2-3

Cardoso, L., Dias, F., de Araújo, A. F., & Marques, M. I. A. (2019). A destination imagery processing model: Structural differences between dream and favourite destinations. Annals of Tourism Research, 74, 81–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.11.001

Chen, C.-F., & Tsai, D. (2007). How destination image and evaluative factors affect behavioral intentions? Tourism Management, 28(4), 1115–1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2006.07.007

Chen, N., & Dwyer, L. (2018). Residents’ place satisfaction and place attachment on destination brand-building behaviors: Conceptual and empirical differentiation. Journal of Travel Research, 57(8), 1026–1041. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287517729760

Coromina, L., & Camprubí, R. (2016). Analysis of tourism information sources using a Mokken Scale perspective. Tourism Management, 56, 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.03.025

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. (2005). White paper on the development and promotion of tourism in the Northern Cape. South Africa.

Fakeye, P. C., & Crompton, J. L. (1991). Image differences between prospective, first-time, and repeat visitors to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Journal of Travel Research, 30(2), 10–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728759103000202

Farzanegan, M. R., Gholipour, H. F., Feizi, M., Nunkoo, R., & Andargoli, A. E. (2020). International tourism and outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19): A cross-country analysis. Journal of Travel Research, 60(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520931593

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104

Fuchs, G., & Reichel, A. (2006). Tourist destination risk perception: The case of Israel. Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, 14(2), 83–108. https://doi.org/10.1300/J150v14n02_06

García-Milon, A., Juaneda-Ayensa, E., Olarte-Pascual, C., & Pelegrín-Borondo, J. (2020). Towards the smart tourism destination: Key factors in information source use on the tourist shopping journey. Tourism Management Perspectives, 36, 100730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100730

Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2020). Pandemics, tourism and global change: A rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708

Hair, J. F. (2010). Multivariate data analysis. Pearson College Division. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04898-2_395

Hajibaba, H., Gretzel, U., Leisch, F., & Dolnicar, S. (2015). Crisis-resistant tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 53, 46–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.04.001

Hamilton, J. M. (2004). Climate and the destination choice of German tourists. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.504362

Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Press.

Hsu, T.-K., Tsai, Y.-F., & Wu, H.-H. (2009). The preference analysis for tourist choice of destination: A case study of Taiwan. Tourism Management, 30(2), 288–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2008.07.011

Huang, S., & Hsu, C. H. (2009). Effects of travel motivation, past experience, perceived constraint, and attitude on revisit intention. Journal of Travel Research, 48(1), 29–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287508328793

Hui, T. K., & Wan, T. W. D. (2003). Singapore’s image as a tourist destination. International Journal of Tourism Research, 5(4), 305–313. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.437

Huybers, T. (2003). Domestic tourism destination choices – a choice modelling analysis. International Journal of Tourism Research, 5(6), 445–459. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.450

Jacobsen, J. K. S., & Munar, A. M. (2012). Tourist information search and destination choice in a digital age. Tourism Management Perspectives, 1, 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2011.12.005

Jeong, M., & Shin, H. H. (2019). Tourists’ experiences with smart tourism technology at smart destinations and their behavior intentions. Journal of Travel Research, 59(8). https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287519883034

Jonas, A., & Mansfeld, Y. (2017). Exploring the interplay between the use of risk-related information, risk perception formation, and the stages of travel product consumption. Current Issues in Tourism, 20(14), 1470–1488. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2015.1024104

Karl, M., & Schmude, J. (2017). Understanding the role of risk (perception) in destination choice: A literature review and synthesis. Turizam: međunarodni znanstveno-stručni časopis, 65(2), 138–155.

Keller, K. L. (2016). Reflections on customer-based brand equity: Perspectives, progress, and priorities. AMS Review, 6(1–2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-016-0078-z

Kim, S.-B., Kim, D.-Y., & Bolls, P. (2014). Tourist mental-imagery processing: Attention and arousal. Annals of Tourism Research, 45, 63–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2013.12.005

Kock, F., Josiassen, A., & Assaf, A. G. (2016). Advancing destination image: The destination content model. Annals of Tourism Research, 61, 28–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2016.07.003

Konecnik, M., & Gartner, W. C. (2007). Customer-based brand equity for a destination. Annals of Tourism Research, 34(2), 400–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2006.10.005

Lepp, A., & Gibson, H. (2008). Sensation seeking and tourism: Tourist role, perception of risk and destination choice. Tourism Management, 29(4), 740–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.08.002

Lertputtarak, S. (2012). The relationship between destination image, food image, and revisiting Pattaya, Thailand. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(5), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v7n5p111

Loureiro, S. M. C., & Sarmento, E. M. (2019). Place attachment and tourist engagement of major visitor attractions in Lisbon. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 19(3), 368–381. https://doi.org/10.1177/1467358418761211

Mair, S. (2020, March 30). What will the world be like after coronavirus? Four possible futures. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-will-the-world-be-like-after-coronavirus-four-possible-futures-134085

Masiero, L., & Qiu, R. T. (2018). Modeling reference experience in destination choice. Annals of Tourism Research, 72, 58–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.06.004

McKercher, B., & Chon, K. (2004). The over-reaction to SARS and the collapse of Asian tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(3), 716–719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2003.11.002

Mohamad, D., & Jamil, R. M. (2012). A preference analysis model for selecting tourist destinations based on motivational factors: A case study in Kedah, Malaysia. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 65, 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.11.085

Neuburger, L., & Egger, R. (2020). Travel risk perception and travel behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020: A case study of the DACH region. Current Issues in Tourism, 24(7), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1803807

Nguyen, Q. (2020). Vietnam counts Q1 tourism damage inflicted by Covid-19. VNEXPRESS International. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/vietnam-counts-q1-tourism-damage-inflicted-by-covid-19-4076097.html

Obenour, W., Lengfelder, J., & Groves, D. (2005). The development of a destination through the image assessment of six geographic markets. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 11(2), 107–119. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766705052569

Qu, H., Kim, L. H., & Im, H. H. (2011). A model of destination branding: Integrating the concepts of the branding and destination image. Tourism Management, 32(3), 465–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.03.014

Reisinger, Y., & Mavondo, F. (2005). Travel anxiety and intentions to travel internationally: Implications of travel risk perception. Journal of Travel Research, 43(3), 212–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287504272017

San Martín, H., Herrero, A., & García de los Salmones, M. d. M. (2019). An integrative model of destination brand equity and tourist satisfaction. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(16), 1992–2013. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1428286

Sheehan, K. (2018). Crowdsourcing research: Data collection with Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Communication Monographs, 85(1), 140–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2017.1342043

Sheth, J. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on consumer behavior: Will the old habits return or die? Journal of Business Research, 117, 280–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.059

Sigala, M. (2020). Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for advancing and resetting industry and research. Journal of Business Research, 117, 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.015

Stabler, M. J., Papatheodorou, A., & Sinclair, M. T. (2009). The economics of tourism. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203864272

Strickland, J. C., & Stoops, W. W. (2019). The use of crowdsourcing in addiction science research: Amazon Mechanical Turk. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000235

Train, K. E. (1998). Recreation demand models with taste differences over people. Land Economics, 74(2), 230–239. https://doi.org/10.2307/3147053

Um, T., & Chung, N. (2019). Does smart tourism technology matter? Lessons from three smart tourism cities in South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), 396–414. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2019.1595691

World Tourism Organization. (2020a). Tourism and Covid-19. UNWTO.

World Tourism Organization. (2020b, May). UNWTO World Tourism Barometer and Statistical Annex, May 2020. UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.18111/wtobarometereng

Wöber, K. W. (2003). Information supply in tourism management by marketing decision support systems. Tourism Management, 24(3), 241–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(02)00071-7

Wu, L., Zhang, J., & Fujiwara, A. (2011). Representing tourists’ heterogeneous choices of destination and travel party with an integrated latent class and nested logit model. Tourism Management, 32(6), 1407–1413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.017

Yoon, Y., & Uysal, M. (2005). An examination of the effects of motivation and satisfaction on destination loyalty: A structural model. Tourism Management, 26(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2003.08.016

Zenker, S., & Kock, F. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic – A critical discussion of a tourism research agenda. Tourism Management, 81, 104164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104164