Impacts of tourists’ trust, perception and acceptance of health quick response technology on responsible pandemic travel behaviours

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to establish and empirically test a theoretical framework to explain the impacts of health quick response (QR) technology trust and acceptance on responsible pandemic travel.

Design/methodology/approach

The study integrates trust, confidence and cooperation theory and the technology acceptance model (TAM) to address the research aim. Adopting a quota sampling approach, a national online survey of 1,089 respondents was conducted across mainland China. Structural equation modelling is applied to evaluate the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that health QR code technology trust can improve travel confidence and mitigate travel fear, which influences travel intention and social distancing practices among tourists. However, tourists’ acceptance of health QR codes encourages social distancing behaviours rather than travel intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The study illustrates the role of health information technology in improving tourist confidence and responsible travel behaviours in a pandemic context. Furthermore, the research supports and adds to the TAM by investigating the relationships between acceptance of health-related technology and pandemic travel behaviour.

Practical implications

This research helps the local government and tourism managers to evaluate the effectiveness of health QR codes in pandemic travel in China. Strategies for improving tourists’ trust, technology adoption and responsible behaviours are provided.

Originality/value

This study differs from existing literature by investigating the innovative technology (i.e., health QR codes) in pandemic travel. Given the prevalence of health QR codes after the COVID-19 outbreak, it fills a knowledge gap and provides advice to improve pandemic travel safety.

研究目的

本文旨在建立并实证检验一个理论框架, 以解释健康快速反应 (QR) 技术信任和接受对负责任的大流行旅行的影响。

研究设计/方法/途径

该研究整合了信任、信心和合作理论以及技术接受模型来解决研究目标。 采用配额抽样的方法, 在中国大陆对 1089 名受访者进行了全国在线调查。 应用结构方程模型来评估提出的假设。

研究发现

结果表明, 健康二维码技术信任可以提高旅行信心并减轻旅行恐惧, 这会影响游客的旅行意愿和社会疏远做法。 然而, 游客对健康二维码的接受鼓励了社会疏远行为, 而不是旅游意图。

研究局限性/影响

该研究说明了健康信息技术在大流行背景下提高游客信心和负责任的旅行行为方面的作用。 此外, 该研究通过调查健康相关技术的接受度与流行病旅行行为之间的关系, 支持并补充了技术接受度模型。

研究实际意义

这项研究帮助当地政府和旅游管理者评估健康二维码在中国大流行旅游中的有效性。 提供了提高游客信任度、技术采用和负责任行为的策略。

研究独创性/价值

这项研究与现有文献的不同之处在于调查了大流行旅行中的创新技术（即健康二维码）。 鉴于 COVID-19 爆发后健康二维码的流行, 它填补了知识空白并提供了改善大流行旅行安全的建议。

Citation

Liu, S. and Zheng, D. (2023), "Impacts of tourists’ trust, perception and acceptance of health quick response technology on responsible pandemic travel behaviours", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 278-294. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-11-2021-0330