THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

This study examines the factors influencing international tourist’s destination choices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using an integrated framework of four behavioral theories: Push-Pull Theory (PPT), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), and Behavioral Decision Theory (B...

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Main Authors: Nguyen Anh LOI, Quoc Nghi NGUYEN, Nguyen Thi Le HUONG
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editura Universităţii din Oradea 2024-12-01
Series:Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-4spl-2024/gtg.574spl10-1363.pdf
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author Nguyen Anh LOI
Quoc Nghi NGUYEN
Nguyen Thi Le HUONG
author_facet Nguyen Anh LOI
Quoc Nghi NGUYEN
Nguyen Thi Le HUONG
author_sort Nguyen Anh LOI
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the factors influencing international tourist’s destination choices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using an integrated framework of four behavioral theories: Push-Pull Theory (PPT), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), and Behavioral Decision Theory (BDT). The research focuses on key factors such as tourist attitudes, travel motivation, personal values, country and destination image, and destination information. Additional ly, the study investigates the moderating role of perceived risk, which affects the relationship between tourist’s attitudes and their final destination choices. A quantitative research method was employed, collecting data from 650 international tourists who visited the Mekong Delta from December 2023 to July 2024. The survey data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS 4.0. The analysis revealed that positive attitudes, strong motivation, and favorable perceptions of the destination significantly influence tourists’ decisions to choose the Mekong Delta. However, perceived risks related to security, infrastructure, and climate negatively moderate these decisions, reducin g the likelihood of choosing the destination even among tourists with initially positive attitudes. Thes e findings underscore the importance of understanding how perceived risks shape tourist behavior, particularly during different stages of the decision - making process. The study provides valuable insights for tourism managers and local businesses to develop strategies that enhance destination appeal, address tourists’ concerns, and ultimately promote sustainable tourism in the Mekong Delta.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
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spelling doaj-art-caba5e7e71c74cb6b7b93af841303ff52025-08-20T03:40:29ZengEditura Universităţii din OradeaGeo Journal of Tourism and Geosites2065-08172065-11982024-12-01574 supplement1964197310.30892/gtg.574spl10-1363THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAMNguyen Anh LOI0Quoc Nghi NGUYEN1Nguyen Thi Le HUONG2Hue University, School of Hospitality and Tourism, Hue City, Vietnam, e-mail: naloi.dl22@hueuni.edu.vn; Vietnam Aviation Academy, Vietnam, e-mail: loina@vaa.edu.vnCan Tho University, School of Economics, Can Tho, Vietnam, e-mail: quocnghi@ctu.edu.vnUniversity of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam, e-mail: ntlhuong@hce.edu.vnThis study examines the factors influencing international tourist’s destination choices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, using an integrated framework of four behavioral theories: Push-Pull Theory (PPT), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), and Behavioral Decision Theory (BDT). The research focuses on key factors such as tourist attitudes, travel motivation, personal values, country and destination image, and destination information. Additional ly, the study investigates the moderating role of perceived risk, which affects the relationship between tourist’s attitudes and their final destination choices. A quantitative research method was employed, collecting data from 650 international tourists who visited the Mekong Delta from December 2023 to July 2024. The survey data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS 4.0. The analysis revealed that positive attitudes, strong motivation, and favorable perceptions of the destination significantly influence tourists’ decisions to choose the Mekong Delta. However, perceived risks related to security, infrastructure, and climate negatively moderate these decisions, reducin g the likelihood of choosing the destination even among tourists with initially positive attitudes. Thes e findings underscore the importance of understanding how perceived risks shape tourist behavior, particularly during different stages of the decision - making process. The study provides valuable insights for tourism managers and local businesses to develop strategies that enhance destination appeal, address tourists’ concerns, and ultimately promote sustainable tourism in the Mekong Delta.https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-4spl-2024/gtg.574spl10-1363.pdfperceived riskdestination choicecountry imagedestination imagemekong delta
spellingShingle Nguyen Anh LOI
Quoc Nghi NGUYEN
Nguyen Thi Le HUONG
THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites
perceived risk
destination choice
country image
destination image
mekong delta
title THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
title_full THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
title_fullStr THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
title_full_unstemmed THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
title_short THE IMPACT OF DECISION-SHAPING FACTORS AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED RISK ON INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS’ DESTINATION CHOICE: THE CASE OF THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
title_sort impact of decision shaping factors and the moderating role of perceived risk on international tourists destination choice the case of the mekong delta vietnam
topic perceived risk
destination choice
country image
destination image
mekong delta
url https://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/PDF/GTG-4spl-2024/gtg.574spl10-1363.pdf
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