Connecting Personal Traits and Intrinsic Motivations in Metaverse Tourism

Despite its potential, practitioners remain cautious and hesitant to invest in metaverse tourism due to uncertainties surrounding its development and adoption. This study explores the characteristics of individuals who are intrinsically motivated to engage in metaverse tourism to better inform the design of metaverse tourism platforms and attract prospective users. Connecting personal traits, intrinsic motivations, and behavioral intention, this study sheds light on the psychological factors underlying intention to travel in the metaverse. Based on a mixed-methods approach, our findings highlight the significance of an introverted personality and prior use experiences on intrinsic motivations. The findings indicate that the desires for pleasure and achievement are the most significant intrinsic motivations for metaverse travel. This research expands the theoretical understanding of intrinsic motivations by identifying their antecedents in a metaverse tourism context. The distinction between the motivational factors for physical travel and metaverse travel is discussed. The findings help practitioners gain deeper insights into the characteristics of prospective customers and technological features to integrate into the design of metaverse tourism platforms.