When digital game addiction and imaginary proclivity drive destination visit intention: the influence of loneliness

This study aims to investigate the relationship between potential tourists’ digital game addiction to imagination proclivity and destination visit intention. It also investigates how the level of loneliness can shape these relationships. The data for this study was collected from 256 gamers from a digital game platform, named Discord. The developed model was tested using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that digital game addiction is positively and significantly associated with a proclivity for imagination and intention to visit destinations. Imagination proclivity’s complementary mediation role was also found. Tourists’ imagination and, accordingly, their intention to visit the destination tend to be higher among those with elevated levels of digital game addiction. Accordingly, DMOs can work with game developers to demonstrate that their destinations are featured positively in game content. This study contributes to understanding the relationships between potential tourists’ loneliness level, digital game addiction, imagination proclivity, and destination visit intention.