Qualitative Research on Factors Affecting Tourists Psychic Distancetowards a Destination (관광지에 대한 심리적 거리에 영향을미치는 요인에 관한 질적 연구)

Hee-Jung Lee (이희정)

Qualitative Research on Factors Affecting Tourists Psychic Distancetowards a Destination

Journal of Tourism Sciences
Abbr : JTS
2012, 36(10), pp.105-124
Publisher : The Tourism Sciences Society Of Korea
Research Area : Social Science > Tourism

Hee-Jung Lee ¹

¹Griffith University

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Psychic distance is a subjective and comparative concept, which leads each individual to experience different levels of psychic distance towards identified constructs. Prior research suggests that psychic distance affects individual behaviour in various ways. Despite its significance, however, very little is known about factors which influence psychic distance in tourism. By utilizing qualitative research means, this study investigated attributes that affect tourists’ psychic distance impacted in overseas holiday experiences. With this aim, focus group interviews were conducted with South Korean tourists. This study used content analyses to analyze the interview data. Three main categories were identified as a result; trust, positive feelings, and knowledge on a destination. If the culture of a host country is considered as attractive, trustable, tourists tend to have less levels of psychic distance between home and the host country. Moreover, if tourists have more knowledge on a host country, they tend to feel less psychic distance. The respective implications of the findings of this study, suggestions for future research and limitations are discussed within.

KEYWORDS

Psychic distance, Trust, Knowledge, Positive feeling, Focus group interview

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

[journal] 김진수 / 2010 / The impact of cognitive and affective image and the perceived risks about recommendation and revisit intention to Ganghwa-do as a tourism destination / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 34(3) : 215~236

[journal] 권유홍 / 2006 / Effects of Affective Responses toward Motion Pictures on Destination Image Formation: The Case of Film, ‘Between Calm and Passion’ / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 30(1) : 47~70

[journal] 이명식 / 2012 / The Effect of Country Image on Tourist Destination Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 36(1) : 157~178

[journal] 이인재 / 2003 / Toward a Dynamic Model of Destination Image Formation: Examination of the Role of Expectation and Direct Experience on Image Formation / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 27(1) : 45~62

[journal] 이정규 / 2004 / Psychic Distance Influences on Tourism Destination Image: Chinese and Japanese Tourists / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 28(2) : 153~174

[journal] 현용호 / 2005 / Relationship between the Destination Image Formation and Tourist Behaviour based on Familiarity Index: A Study of Hahoe Village / 관광학연구 / 한국관광학회 29(1) : 147~167

[book] Albrecht, T. / 1993 / Understanding Communication Processes in Focus Groups, In Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art / Sage : 51~64

[journal] Ankomah, P. K. / 1992 / Tourism Cognitive Distance : A Set of Research Propositions / Annals of Tourism Research 19(2) : 323~342

[journal] Ankomah, P. K. / 1995 / A Study of Pleasure Travelrs' Cognitive Distance Assessments / Journal of Travel Research 34(2) : 12~18

[journal] Baloglu, S. / 2001 / Image Variations of Turkey by Familiarity Index : Informational and Experiential Dimensions / Tourism Management 22(2) : 127~133

[journal] Brewer, P. A. / 2007 / Operationalizing Psychic Distance : A Revised Approach / Journal of International Marketing 15(1) : 44~66

[journal] Cook, R. L. / 1983 / Redefining Vacation Distance in Consumer Minds / Journal of Travel Research 22(2) : 31~34

[journal] Crotts, J. C. / 2004 / The Effect of Cultural Distance on Overseas Travel Behaviours / Journal of Travel Research 43(1) : 83~88

[journal] Crompton, J. L. / 2001 / The influence of Cognitive Distance in Vacation Choice / Annals of Tourism Research 28(2) : 512~515

[journal] Dann, G. / 1977 / Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism / Annals of Tourism Research 4 : 184~194

[journal] Dow, D. / 2006 / Developing a Multidimensional Instrument to Measure Psychic Distance Stimuli / Journal of International Business Studies 37 : 578~602

[journal] Echtner, C. M. / 1999 / The Semiotic Paradigm : Implications for Tourism Research / Tourism Management 20(1) : 47~57

[journal] Enoch, Y. / 1996 / Contents of Tour Packages : A Cross-Cultural Comparison / Annals of Tourism Research 23(3) : 599~616

[journal] Evans, J. / 2002 / Psychic distance : The Construct and Measurers / American Marketing Association 13 : 308~314

[journal] Evans, J. / 2008 / Psychic Distance : Antecedents, Retail Strategy Implications, and Performance Outcomes / Journal of International Marketing 16(2) : 32~63

[book] Frey, J. H. / 1993 / The Group Interview in Social Research, In Successful Focus Groups: Advancing the State of the Art / Sage : 20~34

[journal] Hottola, P. / 2004 / Culture Confusion : Intercultural Adaptation in Tourism / Annals of Tourism Research 31(2) : 447~466

[journal] Kerstetter, D. / 2004 / Prior Knowledge, Credibility and Information Search / Annals of Tourism Research 31(4) : 961~985

[journal] Kerkvliet, J. / 1999 / Heterogeneous Visitors and the Spatial Limits of the Travel Cost Model / Journal of Leisure Research 31(4) : 404~419

[journal] Khadaroo, J. / 2007 / Transport Infrastructure and Tourism Development / Annals of Tourism Research 34(2) : 1021~1032

[journal] Kogut, B. / 1988 / The Effect Of National Culture On The Choice Of Entry Mode / International Business Studies 19 : 411~432

[book] Krueger, R. A. / 2009 / Focus groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research / Sage

[journal] Lau, A. L. / 2004 / Exploration versus Acquisition : A Comparison of First-Time and Repeat Visitors / Journal of Travel Research 42(3) : 279~285

[journal] McKercher, B. / 2003 / Testing a Cultural Tourism Typology / International Journal of Tourism Research 5(1) : 45~58

[book] Neuman, W. L. / 2006 / Social Research Methods / Pearson Education

[journal] Ojala, A. / 2008 / Entry in a Psychically Distant Market : Finnish Small and Medium-sized Software Firms in Japan / European Management Journal 26(2) : 135~144

[journal] Reisinger, Y. / 2002 / Cultural Differences between Asian Tourist Markets and Australian Hosts : Part 2 / Journal of Travel Research 40(4) : 374~384

[journal] Shenkar, O. / 2001 / Cultural Distance Revisited : Towards a more Rigorous Conceptualization and Measurement of Cultural Differences / Journal of International Business Studies 32(3) : 519~535

[journal] Sousa, C. M. P. / 2008 / Cultural Distance and Psychic Distance: Refinements in Conceptualization and Measurement / Journal of Marketing Management 24(5-6) : 467~488

[journal] Swift, J. S. / 1999 / Cultural Closeness as a Facet of Cultural Affinity : A Contribution to the Theory of Psychic Distance / International Marketing Review 16(3) : 182~201

[journal] Tasci, A. D. / 2009 / Social Distance: The Missing Link in the Loop of Movies, Destination Image, and Tourist Behaviour? / Journal of Travel Research 47(4) : 494~507

[book] Torbiorn, I. / 1988 / Culture Barriers as a Social Psychological Construct: An Empirical Validation, In Crosscultural Adaptation: Current Approaches / Sage : 168~190

[journal] Walmsley, D. J. / 1992 / Cognitive Distance : A Neglected Issue in Travel Behaviour / Journal of Travel Research 31(1) : 24~29

[journal] Yauch, C. A. / 2003 / Complementary Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Cultural Assessment Methods / Organizational Research Methods 6(4) : 465~481

[journal] Yavas, U. / 1987 / Foreign Travel Behaviour in a Growing Vacation Market : Implications for Tourism Markets / European Journal of Marketing 21(5) : 57~69

[journal] You, X. / 2000 / A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Travel Push and Pull Factors / International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration 1(2) : 1~26

KJCKorea
Journal Central

Journal of Tourism Sciences 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 2.7