Travel through time: Harnessing nostalgic Instagram content to overcome travel barriers

This study investigates how nostalgic destination-generated content on social media impacts travel intentions, emotional responses, and attitudes, with social influence as a moderating factor. Three experiments tested the hypotheses: Study 1 assessed travel intentions pre- and post-exposure to nostalgic destination-generated content. Study 2 examined nostalgic destination-generated content's effect on emotions, attitudes, and travel intention with mediation analysis. Study 3 explored social influence's moderating effect on nostalgic destination-generated content outcomes. The findings demonstrate that nostalgic destination-generated content enhances travel intentions among individuals facing travel constraints, both directly and indirectly, by evoking positive emotions and fostering favorable attitudes toward the content. Moreover, social influence, reflected through user engagement, further amplifies these effects. This research presents a novel approach by reconceptualizing nostalgia as both a motivator and a tool for overcoming travel constraints. It introduces specific measures for addressing these barriers through destination-generated content, expanding the understanding of travel constraint negotiation as a collaborative process that leverages social media to enhance travel intentions and reduce psychological obstacles.