Do You Trust Digital Health Pass? Understanding Tourists’ Responses toward Using Health QR Codes in Pandemic Travel

ABSTRACT Health information technology has been widely implemented to ensure travel safety in the current normalization stage of COVID-19. However, levels of public trust and acceptance toward health QR codes are low in many countries, impeding tourism recovery after the outbreak. Thus, this study aims to explore the psychological mechanisms underpinning tourist trust, confidence, and behaviors toward traveling with health QR codes. Using a quota sampling, 1089 respondents were collected across mainland China. Results identify that tourists’ trust in health QR codes is affected by knowledge, perceived efficacy, privacy risk, and security. People’s trust in digital health applications can boost travel confidence and increase acceptance of tracing technology and travel intention after the pandemic. Practical implications for developing policies and strategies to encourage travel are provided.