Tourists’ perceptions of proximity tourism: Insights from sentiment analysis and fsQCA

Abstract

Since COVID-19, proximity tourism has gained popularity as the natural environment plays a critical role in mitigating psychological issues via restorative effects. Grounded in restorative environment theory, this study examines tourists' perceptions of proximal nature-based tourism by integrating sentiment analysis with fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Study 1 explored tourists’ attitudes toward the values of a nearby natural park, Saguaro National Park, through 14,906 Instagram posts. Among aesthetic, recreational, emotional, social, and educational values, the sentiment analysis revealed that emotional value scored the highest in visiting satisfaction. Study 2 (N = 357) utilized fsQCA to identify four valuation configurations that affect subjective well-being, consistently highlighting emotional value as a critical factor. These findings underscore the significant role of emotional value in proximity tourism. This study is among the first to integrate sentiment analysis with fsQCA in tourism literature, emphasizing methodological innovation. The results also suggest actionable strategies for multiple tourism stakeholders to enhance natural area management and promote proximity tourism.

Management implications

This study identified emotional value receives the highest score for visiting satisfaction and is a necessary condition in all valuation configurations for bolstering well-being. Thus, DMOs should highlight the distinctive values of proximal natural areas and effectively showcase the emotional appeal of nearby destinations to unlock the full potential of proximity tourism as a valuable and resilient facet of the broader tourism sector. DMOs also need to foster collaboration and partnerships with local businesses, attraction management teams, and community organizations to protect the environmental elements and facilities in proximal destinations to enrich the overall tourism experience within proximity to residences. Local government agencies as a crucial role in managing and protecting these areas should make regulatory frameworks, enforce environmental laws, and invest in infrastructure for conservation purposes.