Does Destination Personality Influence Tourists’ Emotion and Intention? A Study Based on UGC and Spatial Sentiment Analysis

Against the background of tourism recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores how destination personality shapes tourists’ emotions and their behavioral intentions at heritage sites. A framework is constructed to evaluate these three variables based on the Cognitive-Affective-Conative (CAC) theory. The methodology combines user-generated content (UGC), sentiment analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and structural equation modeling (SEM). Online reviews serve as the data source for assessing both perceived destination personality and tourists’ emotional experiences. The statistical findings demonstrate that the personality of a place significantly impacts the emotions experienced by tourists. Among personality dimensions, prominence and responsibility most strongly affect tourists’ behavioral intentions. The research provides valuable insights for tourism managers and policymakers with guidance for fostering sustainable and responsible tourism development.