Divergent impact of belief in COVID-19 misinformation on cross-border tourism

Abstract

In an atmosphere of pathogen danger and mistrust during a pandemic, misinformation can induce the urge to penalize the pathogen's origin-destination. This study exams the effect of COVID-19 origin belief (that is, the belief that the virus is human-engineered) on hospitality and tourism outcomes using multi-wave data (U.S. sample: N = 351). The findings suggest that the diverse impact of COVID-19 origin belief (COVID-19 misinformation) on tourists and residents' approach-avoid behaviors can best be modeled in dual explanatory mechanisms. Specifically, COVID-19 origin belief relates to tourism animosity positively but has a negative association with destination image and resident hospitality. The positive indirect effect of COVID-19 origin belief on tourists' willingness to visit is transmitted by tourism animosity. In contrast, the negative indirect effect of COVID-19 origin belief on tourists' willingness to visit and resident hospitality is transmitted by destination image. Tourists and residents' level of education moderates the positive and negative direct and indirect effects.