IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i9p3538-d1381506.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding Tourists’ Social Networking Site (SNS) Intention with Regards to World Heritage Sites: The Role of Motivation and Overall Image

Author

Listed:
  • Jiachen Li

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

  • Mengru Xie

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

  • Mengfei Yu

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

  • Young-joo Ahn

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
    Tourism Industry Data Analytics Lab (TIDAL), Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

With the growing recognition of sustainability and environmental protection, World Heritage Sites (WHSs) are becoming popular destinations among tourists. To promote heritage destinations in South Korea via social networking site (SNS) platforms, the importance of joint support from tourists to share their experiences should be emphasized. In this research, we aimed to assess the formation process of WHS tourists’ SNS intentions by adopting concepts of travel motivation and overall image. As a part of this study, a survey was conducted among 238 tourists currently living in South Korea who have visited WHSs within the country. The survey results showed that cultural, travel, and social motives led to the construction of the overall destination image. The overall image also affects SNS intention in a positive and significant regard. We also examined the mediating effect of overall image on the relationship between motives and SNS intention. The findings of this study provide further theoretical and practical contributions that can be used to help analyze tourists’ motivations and increase the number of international visitors to a particular country.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiachen Li & Mengru Xie & Mengfei Yu & Young-joo Ahn, 2024. "Understanding Tourists’ Social Networking Site (SNS) Intention with Regards to World Heritage Sites: The Role of Motivation and Overall Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3538-:d:1381506
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3538/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3538/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yanyan Gao & Mengyun Fang & Yongqing Nan & Wei Su, 2023. "World Heritage Site inscription and city tourism attractiveness on national holidays: new evidence with migration big data from China," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(12), pages 1956-1973, June.
    2. Parga Dans, Eva & Alonso González, Pablo, 2019. "Sustainable tourism and social value at World Heritage Sites: Towards a conservation plan for Altamira, Spain," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 68-80.
    3. Vivina Carreira & M. Rosario González-Rodríguez & M. Carmen Díaz-Fernández, 2022. "The relevance of motivation, authenticity and destination image to explain future behavioural intention in a UNESCO World Heritage Site," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(4), pages 650-673, February.
    4. Murodjon Raimkulov & Husanjon Juraturgunov & Young-joo Ahn, 2021. "Destination Attractiveness and Memorable Travel Experiences in Silk Road Tourism in Uzbekistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Yang, Yang & Xue, Lan & Jones, Thomas E., 2019. "Tourism-enhancing effect of World Heritage Sites: Panacea or placebo? A meta-analysis," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 29-41.
    6. Husanjon Juraturgunov & Murodjon Raimkulov & Young-joo Ahn & Eunice Minjoo Kang, 2023. "World Heritage Site Tourism and Destination Loyalty along the Silk Road: A Study of U.S. Travelers in Uzbekistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Tran, Gina A. & Strutton, David, 2020. "Comparing email and SNS users: Investigating e-servicescape, customer reviews, trust, loyalty and E-WOM," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    8. Juan Antonio Jimber del Río & Ricardo D. Hernández-Rojas & Arnaldo Vergara-Romero & Mª Genoveva Dancausa Dancausa Millán, 2020. "Loyalty in Heritage Tourism: The Case of Córdoba and Its Four World Heritage Sites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Canale, Rosaria Rita & De Simone, Elina & Di Maio, Amedeo & Parenti, Benedetta, 2019. "UNESCO World Heritage sites and tourism attractiveness: The case of Italian provinces," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 114-120.
    10. Boley, B. Bynum & Jordan, Evan J. & Kline, Carol & Knollenberg, Whitney, 2018. "Social return and intent to travel," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 119-128.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Elina De Simone & Mara Giua & Cristina Vaquero-Piñeiro, 2024. "Eat, visit, love. World heritage list and geographical indications: Joint acknowledgement and consistency as drivers of tourism attractiveness in Italy," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(6), pages 1531-1556, September.
    2. Alper Bozkurt & Ferhat Şeker, 2023. "Harmonizing Heritage and Artificial Neural Networks: The Role of Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO World Heritage Sites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Vinko Muštra & Blanka Škrabić Perić & Smiljana Pivčević, 2023. "Cultural heritage sites, tourism and regional economic resilience," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(3), pages 465-482, June.
    4. Yan Hu & Feng Lin & Qizhen Dong & Young-joo Ahn, 2024. "Exploring Cultural and Heritage Attributes at Mount Yunqiu, China, Using Importance–Performance Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Bertacchini, Enrico & Revelli, Federico & Zotti, Roberto, 2023. "Lord, how I want to be in that number! On the blessing of UNESCO World Heritage listing," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202304, University of Turin.
    6. Bertacchini, Enrico & Revelli, Federico & Zotti, Roberto, 2024. "The economic impact of UNESCO World Heritage: Evidence from Italy," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    7. Husanjon Juraturgunov & Murodjon Raimkulov & Young-joo Ahn & Eunice Minjoo Kang, 2023. "World Heritage Site Tourism and Destination Loyalty along the Silk Road: A Study of U.S. Travelers in Uzbekistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    8. Md. Karimul Islam & Fariha Farjana & Nishad Nasrin & Md. Shakil Ahmed, 2023. "The economic, social and environmental implications of heritage tourism: evidence from Bangladesh," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Gao, Yanyan & Su, Wei, 2019. "Is the World Heritage just a title for tourism?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Yang Jin & Bing Hou & Xiang Kong, 2024. "The Practice Characteristics of Authorized Heritage Discourse in Tourism: Thematic and Spatial," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Young-joo Ahn, 2021. "City Branding and Sustainable Destination Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-4, December.
    12. Mohamed Abdalla Elsayed Hassan & Konstantina Zerva & Silvia Aulet, 2021. "Brand Personality Traits of World Heritage Sites: Text Mining Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Daniela Sorea & Codrina Csesznek & Gabriela Georgeta Rățulea, 2022. "The Culture-Centered Development Potential of Communities in Făgăraș Land (Romania)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-32, June.
    14. Ekkapong Cheunkamon & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2020. "Determinant Factors Influencing Thai Tourists’ Intentions to Use Social Media for Travel Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    15. Rodriguez, Virginie & Sangle-Ferriere, Marion, 2023. "Do supermarkets’ emails have any value for their customers? The effect of emails’ content and interestingness on customers’ attitude and engagement," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    16. Can, Ali Selcuk & Ekinci, Yuksel & Pino, Giovanni, 2021. "Joint brand advertising for emerging heritage sites," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    17. Ali B. Mahmoud & Dieu Hack-Polay & Nicholas Grigoriou & Iris Mohr & Leonora Fuxman, 2021. "A generational investigation and sentiment and emotion analyses of female fashion brand users on Instagram in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(5), pages 526-544, September.
    18. Zhani, Najlae & Mouri, Nacef & Ahmed, Tariq, 2022. "The role of mobile value and trust as drivers of purchase intentions in m-servicescape," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    19. Palazzo, Maria & Vollero, Agostino & Vitale, Pierluigi & Siano, Alfonso, 2021. "Urban and rural destinations on Instagram: Exploring the influencers’ role in #sustainabletourism," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    20. Cheng-Feng Cheng & Chien-Che Huang & Ming-Chang Lin & Ta-Cheng Chen, 2023. "Exploring Effectiveness of Relationship Marketing on Artificial Intelligence Adopting Intention," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.

    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:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3538-:d:1381506. 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.