Can mask mandates boost nature-based tourism? The role of escapism and travel anxiety

Mario R. Paredes, Vanessa Apaolaza, Patrick Hartmann, Aitor Marcos, Jose Domingo García-Merino

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch Articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tourism in a post-pandemic era will likely be oriented toward nature because contact with nature has restorative health benefits. The purpose of this study was to analyze the antecedents of tourists' intentions to visit nature-based resorts during a pandemic. A nationally representative sample of the Spanish population (n = 500) was recruited by an online commercial panel to test and empirically validate the proposed conceptual framework. The findings confirmed a direct relationship between negative perceptions of wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and tourists' intentions to visit nature-based resorts. The relationship between the perceived negative effects of wearing face masks and the intention to visit nature-based resorts was positively mediated by the need for escapism. This impact was less pronounced for anxious travelers, as shown by results corroborating the moderating effect of travel anxiety. The findings of this study contribute to research on tourism crises and provide future insights into the recovery of the industry during COVID-19.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0280489
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume18
Issue number2 February
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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