Primacy Effect or Recency Effect? The Interplay of Travel Duration and Hedonic Trends in Multi-Destination Tourism

This study delves into the under-explored dynamics of Primacy and Recency effects in multi-destination tourism, utilizing data from online travelogs. Focusing on attraction sequences (hedonic trends) and travel duration, our analysis reveals key relationships between travel duration and tourists’ emotional experiences. We found that longer travel durations lead to a Recency effect, where later parts of the journey significantly impact overall experience. In contrast, shorter durations demonstrate a Primacy effect, with initial attractions having a more pronounced influence. These findings not only highlight the “dynamic” transition between Primacy and Recency effects based on travel duration but also offer practical insights for itinerary design, aiming to enhance tourist satisfaction. This research contributes a new understanding of the temporal sequencing of attractions and their impact on tourist experiences, enriching both theoretical and practical aspects of tourism management.