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Impacts of COVID-19 on tourists' destination preferences: Evidence from China

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  • Li, Xun
  • Gong, Jian
  • Gao, Baojun
  • Yuan, Peiwen

Abstract

Using data of online ticket sales for attractions in the seven provinces of South Central China, this study focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on tourists' destination preferences after the end of lockdown. Empirical results reveal that tourists' destination preferences have changed significantly, which holds under a number of robustness checks. Specifically, we find that tourists avoid traveling to destinations with more confirmed cases of COVID-19 relative to their places of origin, especially Hubei Province, and prefer destinations close to home, especially local attractions. The empirical findings have significant implications for managers and policymakers in tourism and we provide potential mechanisms for these findings based on signaling, risk perception, and prospect theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Xun & Gong, Jian & Gao, Baojun & Yuan, Peiwen, 2021. "Impacts of COVID-19 on tourists' destination preferences: Evidence from China," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:anture:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s0160738321001365
    DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2021.103258
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    8. Rehab El Gamil, 2022. "Exploring Travel Behaviour Post-COVID-19: Towards a More Responsible Tourism," Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, University of Primorska Press, vol. 15(2), pages 203-216.
    9. Sunny Sun & Lina Zhong & Rob Law & Xiaoya Zhang & Liyu Yang & Meiling Li, 2022. "A Proposed DISE Approach for Tourist Destination Crisis Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
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    16. Zhang, Hanyuan & Qiu, Richard T.R. & Wen, Long & Song, Haiyan & Liu, Chang, 2023. "Has COVID-19 changed tourist destination choice?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
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    18. Afonso Victor & Calisto Maria de Lurdes, 2023. "Covid-19 and the Portuguese accommodation sector," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 49-55, December.
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