The Role of Virtual Reality in Tourism Marketing: Virtual Destination Image Formation and Behavioral Intentions

This research investigates the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) as a tourism marketing tool on forming virtual destination image and behavioral intentions among potential outbound Iranian tourists. With limited empirical studies on this topic, the study bridges the research gap by exploring the role of VR in shaping tourists' perceptions and intentions. The applied quantitative research involves 302 participants, and the data is analyzed using the structural equation method in Smart PLS Software. The findings reveal that the sense of presence in the VR environment directly influences virtual cognitive and affective images, which affect the overall virtual image and subsequently behavioral intentions. This study provides valuable insights for marketers and destination managers to utilize VR for enhanced tourism marketing strategies.