A study of the influence of environmental stimuli on behavioral intentions in the tourism experience of memorial spaces

ABSTRACTMemorial spaces have received increasing attention as dark tourism destinations over the last two decades. Based on the stimulus-organism-response theory and the theory of planned behavior, this study proposes a model to measure the influence of environmental stimuli on tourists’ behavioral intentions regarding memorial spaces. It also examines the mediating roles of behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, perceptual (perceived) behavioral control, and affective responses. The results show that environmental stimuli have a direct and indirect effect on tourists’ behavioral intentions through the four individual state dimensions, providing both theoretical and practical implications for memorial space design and dark tourism marketing.KEYWORDS: Dark tourismmemorial spacesbehavioral intentionsenvironmental stimulistimulus-organism-response theorytheory of planned behavior Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China under Grant [number 20BG127]; the National Museum of China under Grant [number GBKX2021Z10]; and Jiangsu Province University Philosophy Social Science Fund under Grant [number 2022SJYB1842].