IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i11p6441-d823448.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Meet Your Digital Twin in Space? Profiling International Expat’s Readiness for Metaverse Space Travel, Tech-Savviness, COVID-19 Travel Anxiety, and Travel Fear of Missing Out

Author

Listed:
  • Umer Zaman

    (Endicott College of International Studies (ECIS), Woosong University, Daejeon 34606, Korea)

  • Inhyouk Koo

    (Endicott College of International Studies (ECIS), Woosong University, Daejeon 34606, Korea)

  • Saba Abbasi

    (Department of Management Sciences, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Syed Hassan Raza

    (Department of Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan)

  • Madeeha Gohar Qureshi

    (Department of Economics, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

Abstract

The metaverse promises an unimaginable future for digital travelers by enabling them to gain unique experiences (e.g., space travel) that would otherwise be impossible in non-virtual reality. Moreover, COVID-19 travel anxiety has triggered growing interest in virtual environments (e.g., metaverse travel) in the aftermath of the pandemic. The cost-conscious and tech-savvy behavior of travelers has been resurrected in the ‘new normal’; however, the fear of missing out (FOMO) is now dictating travelers’ choices for newness, immersive and rewarding travel experiences. To address these emerging trends, promising new technologies, and untested relationships, the present study explored the effects of COVID-19 travel anxiety on the readiness for metaverse space travel. In addition, the moderating influence of tech savviness and travel FOMO was tested on this relationship. Drawing on data of international expats ( N = 386) in UAE, the finding based on structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that the international expat’s readiness for metaverse space travel is positively influenced by their COVID-19 travel anxiety. Moreover, expats with high tendencies of travel FOMO and tech savviness will experience a stronger impact of COVID-19 travel anxiety on their readiness for metaverse space travel. These novel findings guided by prominent theories (e.g., self-determination, SOR, and protection motivation) offer new insights for policy makers and practitioners to strategically achieve digital-tourism transformation and sustainability through emerging and immersive metaverse technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Umer Zaman & Inhyouk Koo & Saba Abbasi & Syed Hassan Raza & Madeeha Gohar Qureshi, 2022. "Meet Your Digital Twin in Space? Profiling International Expat’s Readiness for Metaverse Space Travel, Tech-Savviness, COVID-19 Travel Anxiety, and Travel Fear of Missing Out," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6441-:d:823448
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6441/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6441/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    2. Chang, Yu-Wei & Chen, Jiahe, 2021. "What motivates customers to shop in smart shops? The impacts of smart technology and technology readiness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    3. Qiang Yan & Lingli Wang & Wenjing Chen & Junghoo Cho, 2016. "Study on the influencing factors of unplanned consumption in a large online promotion activity," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 453-477, December.
    4. Umer Zaman & Syed Hassan Raza & Saba Abbasi & Murat Aktan & Pablo Farías, 2021. "Sustainable or a Butterfly Effect in Global Tourism? Nexus of Pandemic Fatigue, COVID-19-Branded Destination Safety, Travel Stimulus Incentives, and Post-Pandemic Revenge Travel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Ebru Morgul & Abdulbari Bener & Muhammed Atak & Salih Akyel & Selman AktaÅŸ & Dinesh Bhugra & Antonio Ventriglio & Timothy R Jordan, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and psychological fatigue in Turkey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(2), pages 128-135, March.
    6. Guan, Xinhua & Xie, Lishan & Shen, Wen-Guo & Huan, Tzung-Cheng, 2021. "Are you a tech-savvy person? Exploring factors influencing customers using self-service technology," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Xiang, Zheng & Magnini, Vincent P. & Fesenmaier, Daniel R., 2015. "Information technology and consumer behavior in travel and tourism: Insights from travel planning using the internet," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 244-249.
    8. Taehyee Um & Hyunkyu Kim & Hyunji Kim & Jungho Lee & Chulmo Koo & Namho Chung, 2022. "Travel Incheon as a Metaverse: Smart Tourism Cities Development Case in Korea," Springer Books, in: Jason L. Stienmetz & Berta Ferrer-Rosell & David Massimo (ed.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2022, pages 226-231, Springer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xiaozhe Hui & Syed Hassan Raza & Sanan Waheed Khan & Umer Zaman & Emenyeonu C. Ogadimma, 2023. "Exploring Regenerative Tourism Using Media Richness Theory: Emerging Role of Immersive Journalism, Metaverse-Based Promotion, Eco-Literacy, and Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Salvatore Monaco & Giovanna Sacchi, 2023. "Travelling the Metaverse: Potential Benefits and Main Challenges for Tourism Sectors and Research Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Jussi S. Jauhiainen & Claudia Krohn & Johanna Junnila, 2022. "Metaverse and Sustainability: Systematic Review of Scientific Publications until 2022 and Beyond," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hyeon Jo, 2023. "Tourism in the digital frontier: a study on user continuance intention in the metaverse," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 307-330, September.
    2. Liu, Chih-Hsing & Dong, Tse-Ping & Vu, Ho Tran, 2023. "Transformed virtual concepts into reality: Linkage the viewpoint of entrepreneurial passion, technology adoption propensity and advantage to usage intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Umer Zaman & Stuart J. Barnes & Saba Abbasi & Mahwish Anjam & Murat Aktan & Muddasar Ghani Khwaja, 2022. "The Bridge at the End of the World: Linking Expat’s Pandemic Fatigue, Travel FOMO, Destination Crisis Marketing, and Vaxication for “Greatest of All Trips”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Jayaswal, Pragya & Parida, Biswajita, 2023. "The role of augmented reality in redefining e-tailing: A review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Jan Wiers & Didier Chabaud, 2022. "Bibliometric analysis of immigrant entrepreneurship research 2009–2019," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 441-464, December.
    6. Katherin Carrera-Silva & Olga Maritza Rodríguez Ulcuango & Paula Abdo-Peralta & Ángel Gerardo Castelo Salazar & Carmen Amelia Samaniego Erazo & Diego Haro Ávalos, 2024. "Beyond the Financial Horizon: A Critical Review of Social Responsibility in Latin American Credit Unions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-23, September.
    7. Yucheng Zhang & Zhiling Wang & Lin Xiao & Lijun Wang & Pei Huang, 2023. "Discovering the evolution of online reviews: A bibliometric review," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Tajana Čop & Mario Njavro, 2022. "Application of Discrete Choice Experiment in Agricultural Risk Management: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    9. Migliavacca, Milena & Goodell, John W. & Paltrinieri, Andrea, 2023. "A bibliometric review of portfolio diversification literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    10. Shuangqing Sheng & Wei Song & Hua Lian & Lei Ning, 2022. "Review of Urban Land Management Based on Bibliometrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, November.
    11. Gour Gobinda Goswami & Tahmid Labib, 2022. "Modeling COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics: A Bibliometric Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Dzintra Atstāja & Kevin Wilclif Mukem, 2024. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Oil and Gas Industry in Developing Countries as a Part of the Quadruple Helix Concept: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    13. Das, Kallol & Patel, Jayesh D. & Sharma, Anuj & Shukla, Yupal, 2023. "Creativity in marketing: Examining the intellectual structure using scientometric analysis and topic modeling," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    14. Majda Ćesić & Katarina Rogulj & Jelena Kilić Pamuković & Andrija Krtalić, 2024. "A Systematic Review on Fuzzy Decision Support Systems and Multi-Criteria Analysis in Urban Heat Island Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-42, April.
    15. Ying Liang & Wei Song, 2022. "Ecological and Environmental Effects of Land Use and Cover Changes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A Bibliometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Luiz Almeida & Ana Soares & Pedro Moura, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Optimization Approaches for the Integration of Electric Vehicles in Public Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-26, June.
    17. Lanzalonga Federico & Chmet Federico & Petrolo Basilio & Brescia Valerio, 2023. "Exploring Diversity Management to Avoid Social Washing and Pinkwashing: Using Bibliometric Analysis to Shape Future Research Directions," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 41-65, March.
    18. Kupeli, Birgul & Salman, Gulberk Gultekin & Karaosmanoglu, Elif & Daim, Tugrul, 2024. "Exploring self-service technology adoption: Case of airline check in," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    19. Mansoureh Beheshti Nejad & Seyed Mahmoud Zanjirchi & Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Bamakan & Negar Jalilian, 2024. "Blockchain Adoption in Operations Management: A Systematic Literature Review of 14 Years of Research," Annals of Data Science, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 1361-1389, August.
    20. Satish Kumar & Filomena Maggino & Raj V. Mahto & Riya Sureka & Leonardo Salvatore Alaimo & Weng Marc Lim, 2022. "Social Indicators Research: A Retrospective Using Bibliometric Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 413-448, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6441-:d:823448. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.