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Recovery experience of wellness tourism and place attachment: insights from feelings-as-information theory

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, ISSN: 0959-6119, Vol: 34, Issue: 8, Page: 2934-2952
2022
  • 35
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 88
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

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Article Description

Purpose: This study, guided by the feelings-as-information theory, aims to explore the effect of recovery experience of wellness tourism (REWT) on place attachment, alongside an examination into the mediating role of self-perceived health and the moderating role of health goal salience. The research site was traced for two years to monitor the evolution of the proposed model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The successive independent samples data (in 2020 and 2021, respectively) were collected in Shizhu county, China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used with a survey of 1,472 wellness tourists (N = 494, N = 978) to test research hypotheses empirically. Additionally, independent sample t-test and multi-group SEM analysis were used to compare the mean difference of variables and coefficients’ difference between 2020 and 2021. Findings: This study reveals that REWT can increase self-perceived health, resulting in a positive influence on place attachment. By tracing the research site and comparing the successive independent samples data, we found a stronger recovery experience effect of wellness tourism on place attachment alongside a weaker effect on self-perceived health in 2021. The positive relationship between self-perceived health and place attachment is significantly strengthened when health goals are salient. Originality/value: This study investigated the mechanism behind the formation of place attachment in the wellness tourism context and extended understanding on the dynamic nature of the REWTand ongoing evolving person-place relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also provided practical suggestions to benefit industry practitioners by enhancing current understanding of improving experience-based management in wellness destinations.

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