Divergent impact of belief in COVID-19 misinformation on cross-border tourism

Collins Opoku Antwi, Seth Yeboah Ntim, Jianzhen Zhang, Eric Adom Asante, Adjei Peter Darko, Jun Ren

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In an atmosphere of pathogen danger and mistrust during a pandemic, misinformation can induce the urge to penalize the pathogen's origin-destination. This study exams the effect of COVID-19 origin belief (that is, the belief that the virus is human-engineered) on hospitality and tourism outcomes using multi-wave data (U.S. sample: N = 351). The findings suggest that the diverse impact of COVID-19 origin belief (COVID-19 misinformation) on tourists and residents' approach-avoid behaviors can best be modeled in dual explanatory mechanisms. Specifically, COVID-19 origin belief relates to tourism animosity positively but has a negative association with destination image and resident hospitality. The positive indirect effect of COVID-19 origin belief on tourists' willingness to visit is transmitted by tourism animosity. In contrast, the negative indirect effect of COVID-19 origin belief on tourists' willingness to visit and resident hospitality is transmitted by destination image. Tourists and residents' level of education moderates the positive and negative direct and indirect effects.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100901
JournalJournal of Destination Marketing and Management
Volume32
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024

Keywords

  • Behavioral intentions
  • COVID-19 origin belief
  • Destination image
  • Tourism animosity
  • Tourism biases
  • Tourist-host relations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management
  • Strategy and Management
  • Marketing

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