This study investigates the efficacy of emotion regulation (ER) strategies used by tourists to manage negative emotions elicited by their on-site destination experiences. Specifically, suppression and reappraisal ER strategies were… Click to show full abstract
This study investigates the efficacy of emotion regulation (ER) strategies used by tourists to manage negative emotions elicited by their on-site destination experiences. Specifically, suppression and reappraisal ER strategies were examined for their moderating impacts on the relationship between negative emotions (anger and fear) and tourists’ behavioral intention (negative word-of-mouth and revisitation). Through two pre-tests and three experiments involving video and text stimuli, findings are first revealed within a destination crowding context and replicated using tourist harassment. Empirical results in both contexts consistently demonstrate the superiority of reappraisal in down-regulating tourists’ experience of anger and fear and in alleviating negative word-of-mouth intention. In contrast, suppression significantly up-regulates the anger and fear felt and, as such, aggravates negative word-of-mouth intention. Findings also suggest that ER does not significantly moderate the effect of fear on revisit intention. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
               
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