Differences in Destination Attachment Representations of First-time and Repeat Tourists

Abstract

The concept of destination attachment originates from the “people-people” attachment research but has not been investigated from this perspective, resulting in a substantial research gap. This study applied the concept of adult attachment to conceptualize, classify, and measure destination attachment. Different formation mechanisms, the effect range of the destination attachment representations of first-time and repeat tourists, and the relationships between the destination attachment representations and general attachment representations of tourists were examined. The findings were in line with the theoretical expectations. This study is innovative because it expands the research scope of destination attachment, proposing the necessity of developing formative measurement dimensions of destination attachment and elucidating the meanings of the relationship between the attachment representations of first-time and repeat tourists in tourist loyalty research. Managerially, this study has practical value for shaping destination attachment and attracting/cultivating repeat tourists.