Social Distancing in Tourism Destination Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

While protective measures in response to infectious diseases may reduce the freedom of tourists (regarding their behaviors), few studies have documented the effects of destination protective measures on the self-protective behaviors of tourists. By applying the protection motivation theory, this study examines the effects of perceived destination protective supports on the social distancing intentions of tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results reveal significant relationships among perceived destination support, coping appraisal, threat appraisal, and the social distancing intentions of tourists. Moreover, two cognitive appraisals—toward the pandemic—partially mediate the relationship between perceived destination support and social distancing intention, and this mediational process is ‘intervened’ with by social norms. This has implications on whether tourist destinations apply more rigorous social distancing polices during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enhance the coping confidence behaviors of tourists, without causing anxiety and fear, and to achieve the goal of enhancing tourists’ intentions to protect themselves.

Desire to stay shorter time at the shopping mall: insight from protection motivation (PMT), behavioral inhibition system (BIS), reactance, and expectancy theories

“…Threat appraisal is moderated by social norms, but they may outweigh perceived hazards and motivate consumers to use computer services (Chi et al, 2012 ). Zhang et al ( 2021 ) study confirmed that social norm moderates the association between threat appraisal and social distancing intention. Accordingly, we propose the following hypotheses: H7a: There is a moderating role of social norms in the link between shoppers’ risk and their desire to stay a shorter time at the shopping mall.…”

“…A prior study conducted by Liu et al ( 2021 ) provided confirmation that protective motivation has a large and favourable influence on behavioural intention. According to Zhang et al ( 2021 ), consumer protection motivation and behavioural intention are positively correlated in the setting of omnichannel marketing. As a result, the following theory was put out by this investigation: H6 : Shopper’s protection motivation significantly affects the desire to stay a shorter time at the shopping mall.…”

Impact of Covid19 on the development of digital service capability for value co-creation: a mediating role of service ecosystem self-adjustment

“…Results of the survey indicate a significant impact of Covid19 on developıng digital service capability. Thus, Covid19 has significantly accelerated the DD_SC for business people because it demands people to keep social distance as a preventive measure against the Covid19 effect (Song et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2021). So, the most accessible means of servicing customers was by familiarizing themselves with digital capabilities that assist online businesses.…”

“…Thus, Covid19 has significantly accelerated the DD_SC for business people because it demands people to keep social distance as a preventive measure against the Covid19 effect (Song et al. , 2021; Zhang et al. , 2021).…”

Risk, Obligation, and Public Noncompliance with Mobility Directives in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, risk-related constraints were measured using 13 items [ 31 , 35 , 40 , 59 ]. To capture the participants’ motives for outdoor leisure or travel, items (e.g., relaxation, enjoying beautiful natural scenery) were developed based on the review by Zhang [ 60 ] on travel motivation. Subsequently, adaptive response was measured using statements such as seeking information and actions to prevent viral infection, whereas maladaptive perception was measured using six items.…”