Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Dr. Iis P. Tussyadiah is associate clinical professor at Washington State University. Her research interests lie in the intersection of information and communication technologies and tourism experience. Email: iis.tussyadiah@wsu.edu

Dr. Dan Wang is assistant professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interests include technology mediated tourism experience, mobile marketing, and tourists Internet behavior. Email: d.wang@polyu.edu.hk

Chenge (Helen) Jia is research assistant at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She graduated from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management. Her study focuses on information technology and tourism. Email: Chenge.jia@polyu.edu.hk

Abstract (150 Words)

This study investigates the persuasive power of virtual reality (VR) imagery for destination marketing by assessing the roles of spatial presence in influencing attitude and behavior toward tourism destinations. Based on interviews with 23 participants involving the use of Google Cardboard VR viewer, this study extracted users’ experience from the conceptual lenses of spatial presence and transportation theories. It was identified that users felt varying levels of spatial presence during the experience, while all recalled moments of arrival and departure (i.e., being transported) as well as moments that generate stronger sense of being there. Further, factors that support and distract users from being fully immersed in the virtual environment were identified, which include consistency, representation, social experience, and continuity. These resulted in different user perception on the persuasiveness of VR experience. Marketing and design implications are provided.

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Exploring the Persuasive Power of Virtual Reality Imagery for Destination Marketing

This study investigates the persuasive power of virtual reality (VR) imagery for destination marketing by assessing the roles of spatial presence in influencing attitude and behavior toward tourism destinations. Based on interviews with 23 participants involving the use of Google Cardboard VR viewer, this study extracted users’ experience from the conceptual lenses of spatial presence and transportation theories. It was identified that users felt varying levels of spatial presence during the experience, while all recalled moments of arrival and departure (i.e., being transported) as well as moments that generate stronger sense of being there. Further, factors that support and distract users from being fully immersed in the virtual environment were identified, which include consistency, representation, social experience, and continuity. These resulted in different user perception on the persuasiveness of VR experience. Marketing and design implications are provided.