How Fear of COVID-19 Affects Service Experience and Recommendation Intention in Theme Parks: An Approach of Integrating Protection Motivation Theory and Experience Economy Theory

Exploring public values through Twitter data associated with urban parks pre- and post- COVID-19

Since school and business closures due to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, urban parks have been a popular destination, offering spaces for daily fitness activities and an escape from the home environment. There is a need for evidence for parks and recreation departments and agencies to base decisions when adapting policies in response to the rapid change in demand and preferences during the pandemic. The application of social media data analytic techniques permits a qualitative and quantitative big-data approach to gain unobtrusive and prompt insights on how parks are valued. This study investigates how public values associated with NYC parks has shifted between pre- COVID (i.e., from March 2019 to February 2020) and post- COVID (i.e., from March 2020 to February 2021) through a social media microblogging platform -Twitter. A topic modeling technique for short text identified common traits of the changes in Twitter topics regarding impressions and values associated with the parks over two years. While the NYC lockdown resulted in much fewer social activities in parks, some parks continued to be valued for physical activity and nature contact during the pandemic. Concerns about people not keeping physical distance arose in parks where frequent human interactions and crowding seemed to cause a higher probability of the coronavirus transmission. This study demonstrates social media data could be used to capture park values and be specific per park. Results could inform park management during disruptions when use is altered and the needs of the public may be changing.

[Development of specific guidance for the safe opening and operation of recreational destinations under pandemic conditions]

Background

The SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic led to the closure of leisure and recreation facilities worldwide. As part of a model study funded by the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration, it was possible to demonstrate how a hygiene and safety concept can be successfully implemented in practice using the example of the opening and operation of an amusement park in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany) under scientific supervision.

Objective

The aim of the model project was, besides the verification of a possible infection event through a visit to the amusement park, to develop and review a recommended course of action for the safe opening and operation of leisure facilities under pandemic conditions, which can be transferred to other destinations.

Methods

A variety of data sources were used for this project: Recurrent expert rounds of multidisciplinary teams (business administration, healthcare research, sociology and medicine), aerosol measurement data, observation protocols, official infection statistics and interview data from visitor surveys.

Results

The action plan developed in this project provides guidance and recommendations for operators of recreation and leisure facilities to implement measures that enhance staff and guest safety, allowing facilities to operate under pandemic conditions.

Conclusion

This study sets a precedent using the example of a recreational park in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany) to serve as a guide for other facilities; however, operations in the leisure and tourism sector are unique and measures are accordingly difficult to transfer directly. The recommended action plan is further intended to support policy makers in future pandemic situations regarding measures to close, open and operate such facilities.

Cruise traveling behavior post-COVID-19: An integrated model of health protection motivation, travel constraint and social learning

Travel restrictions have harmed the cruise industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study, which is attributed to permanent changes in the regulatory and social landscape, is to identify and examine the factors influencing post-COVID-19 cruise travel intention. To explain cruise travel intention, we developed a theoretical model incorporating health protection motivation, social learning and travel constraint theories. An online survey was conducted with 400 valid responses collected from Singapore. The theoretical model was estimated using structural equation modeling and the survey data. The findings indicate that (1) observing societal behavior, (2) observing the COVID-19 situation, (3) threat appraisal, and (4) coping appraisal all have a direct influence on travel constraint negotiation. Furthermore, travel constraint negotiation and societal observation have a direct impact on intention. An intriguing finding is that observing the COVID-19 situation has no effect on threat assessment, which can be attributed to pandemic fatigue. The findings allow for a set of recommendations to cruise companies and policymakers for post-COVID-19 cruise industry management.