A serial mediation model for destination choice intention of hospitality and tourism students in an experiential learning context

Purpose This study proposes a serial mediation model to investigate the factors influencing hospitality and tourism (H&T) students' destination choice intentions in an experiential learning context. By extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to include extended variables and the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory, this study explores pathways in which experiential learning involvement (IEL) and destination emotions (DE) interact with attitude (ATT), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) to predict H&T students' intentions (ITT). This work also examines the moderating role of destination familiarity (DF) on relationships between destination emotions and attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model and research hypotheses were each assessed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Paper-based surveys were used to collect data from 715 students majoring in tourism and hospitality training at schools in Vietnam and applying experiential learning activities during their training. Findings Research results confirm a serial mediation model wherein IEL and DE promote the formation of intention to choose a specific destination through various pathways: IEL? PBC? ITT; IEL? DE? SN/PBC? ITT and DE? SN/PBC? ITT. In addition, the results show that destination familiarity dampens the relationship between emotions and attitudes as well as with perceived behavioral control. Practical implications This study offers practical recommendations for destination management organizations (DMOs) seeking to increase the intention of H&T students to choose their particular destination. These recommendations include: forming strategic alliances with H&T educational institutions; implementing preferential policies like discounted or free admission to attractions and corporate discounts for students; launching targeted digital marketing campaigns on social media platforms and promoting the destination through youth-oriented media such as television shows and music videos. Originality/value From addressing the research gap by developing and testing a serial mediation model of destination choice intention of H&T students in an experiential learning context, this study offers new insights into developing scales of constructs in the research model associated with the context of experiential learning and highlights the importance of IEL and DE as a stimulus to achieve ATT, SN and PBC, all of which serve to increase H&T students' intention to choose a destination through different paths under the moderating lens of destination familiarly.