Every storm will pass: Examining expat’s host country-destination image, cultural intelligence and renewed destination loyalty in COVID-19 tourism

Abstract

The massive cultural transformation in the pandemic-paused tourism industry has revamped loyalty towards destinations, thus prompting scholarly attention towards global expats who were rarely considered in tourism research. Drawing on data from 266 expats in South Korea, the study examined the effects of country image (CYI), destination image (DNI), and expat's cultural intelligence (ECLI) on expat's renewed destination loyalty (EDLY) in COVID-19 tourism. Using partial least squares structural modeling (PLS-SEM), we show that expat's cultural intelligence has a significant influence on destination image and expat's destination loyalty. Moreover, the study provides new empirical evidence that destination image mediates country image and expat's destination loyalty in the COVID-19 tourism. The study findings underpin policy interventions to rescue tourism destinations under COVID-19 crisis, as well as restore loyalty towards destinations in the post-COVID-19 global tourism.

Can Post-Vaccine ‘Vaxication’ Rejuvenate Global Tourism? Nexus between COVID-19 Branded Destination Safety, Travel Shaming, Incentives and the Rise of Vaxication Travel

“…In order to address this contentious issue, the present study empirically highlighted that promoting destinations as pandemic-free can trigger future tourism demand, especially for those who have already received their vaccination shots. The pandemic has distressed many nations with extremely challenging economic, social and cultural conditions, leaving too many people emotionally damaged [134][135][136]. Once acknowledged as a social currency, global travel now incites feelings of shame for those who still want to travel during the pandemic [23].…”

Tourists’ travel intention: revisiting the TPB model with age and perceived risk as moderator and attitude as mediator

“…There are few advantages of using PLS-SEM, including the ability to analyzing formative indicators and possessing better statistical power (Hair et al , 2017). This study used PLS-SEM on the account that it provides better predictability and allows the examination of more complex model that includes mediation and moderation effect (Zaman et al , 2021). The data quality was checked in the previous section, which can ensure the reliability and both convergent and divergent validity.…”

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

“…The present study was aimed at empirically examining a conceptualized model of revenge travel under the influence of pandemic fatigue, COVID-19-branded destination safety, and travel incentives. Due to an unknown (and/or not specifically reported) population of international expats residing in various provinces and cities of Pakistan, as well as the challenge of data collection during times of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the present study adopted the recommended approach of non-probability sampling that ensured the cost-effective and timely collection of the study data [11,64]. Using a standardized questionnaire, the study data on international expats were mainly collected through direct emails (i.e., sharing an online survey) to the expat's community, as well as multiple social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp, etc.)…”

“…The final sample size (N = 422) showed an exceptional response rate (93.7%) according to the metrics suggested by literature [66]. Importantly, recommended procedures were also adopted during the survey (e.g., ensuring anonymity, confidentiality, and promising feedback to the respondents who had no knowledge about the study's conceptual model, as well as ensuring a simplified survey with easily understandable questions) to overcome any issue of common method bias [11,64].…”