Wellness and Wanderlust: How Social Wellness Impacts Travel Motivation

Abstract

With the emergence of wellness as a significant lifestyle consideration, its influence on various life aspects, including travel, is gaining attention. This study aims to explore the intricate relationship between social wellness, physiological needs, safety-security needs, self-actualization needs, and travel intention. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the research examined these connections within a sample of 317 respondents. Findings revealed that social wellness significantly influence physiological needs, which in turn, have a strong positive effect on safety-security needs, self-actualization needs, and travel intention. However, safety-security needs were not found to directly impact travel intention. Income was the only control variable affecting travel intention, with gender, age, and timing of last travel showing no significant influence. These insights carry valuable theoretical contributions, enriching the understanding of wellness-driven travel motivation and offering practical implications for service providers, marketers, and policymakers in the travel and tourism industry.