How do destination Facebook pages work? An extended TPB model of fans’ visit intention

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose and test an extended theory of planned behavior model (TPB) to explain how following destination Facebook pages impacts travelers’ visit intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The study asked 252 participants to follow a destination’s Facebook page for three months before they completed the survey. An integrative model combining theory of planned behavior, social influence theory and attitude toward the ad was proposed. Partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used in testing the proposed model.

Findings

The findings indicated that the three social influences (compliance, identification and internalization) all significantly impacted visit intention both directly and mediated by subjective norm. Facebook page experience also significantly influenced visit intention mediated by perceived behavioral control. However, both attitude toward the destination and attitude toward messages were not significantly associated with visit intention.

Practical implications

The findings of this study revealed important practical implications for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to leverage Facebook marketing. Specifically, DMOs should pay extra attention to the social influence of Facebook pages, especially identification, and also use Facebook pages to reduce perceived behavioral control of potential visitors.

Originality/value

This study was one of the first attempts to explore the factors influencing visit intention of destination Facebook fans based on an extended TPB model. The study also contributed to the literature of using PLS-SEM in predicting behavioral intention through a reflective-formative higher-order model.

研究目的

本论文旨在建立和验证一个扩展的计划行为模型, 用来解释旅游目的地Facebook如何影响游客旅游意图。

研究设计/方法/途径

252人参与本研究项目, 他们实际关注了一个旅游目的地Facebook三个月, 然后填写了问卷。本论文以计划行为模型、社会影响理论、以及广告认知理论等为基础, 建立一体化模型。本论文采用偏最小二乘回归结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）验证这个一体化模型。

研究结果

三种社会影响因素（从众、认同、内化）均对旅游意图有直接和间接的影响。Facebook体验也对于旅游意图, 通过知觉行为控制的中间调解作用, 有显著影响。然而, 目的地态度和信息的态度并未显著地与旅游意图有关。

研究实践意义

本论文结果对于旅游目的地管理机构（DMOs）如何使用Facebook营销有着实际启示作用。特别的是, DMOs应该更加关注Facebook的社会影响方面, 比如认同, 以及使用Facebook来减少潜在游客的知觉行为控制。

研究原创性/价值

本论文是首先几篇以TPB模型为基础, 探索目的地Facebook粉丝效应的旅游意图的文章。本论文还对于使用PLS-SEM技术通过反应性-形成性多阶模型来预测行为意图的文献有着理论贡献。

关键词

关键词：广告认知, 、目的地Facebook, 、社会影响理论, 、计划行为理论, 、旅游意图

纸张类型

研究论文

Citation

Leung, X.Y. and Jiang, L. (2018), "How do destination Facebook pages work? An extended TPB model of fans’ visit intention", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 397-416. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-09-2017-0088