How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs
Abstract
This study investigates how destination attractiveness influences destination choice by examining the mediating role of tour programs and the moderating role of social media sharing within the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) framework. Data were collected through a survey of 452 domestic and international tourists visiting Cappadocia and analyzed using structural equation modeling and PROCESS macro. The findings indicate that destination attractiveness, tour programs, and social media sharing each positively affect destination choice. Tour programs partially mediate the relationship between destination attractiveness and destination choice, while social media sharing strengthens the effect of destination attractiveness on tour programs but does not moderate the relationship between tour programs and destination choice. The study extends the S–O–R framework by integrating tour programs and social media sharing into destination choice processes and offers practical implications for destination managers, tour operators, and tourism marketers.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Tourist Behaviour and Visitor Experience
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
August 24, 2026
Publication Date
-
Submission Date
June 10, 2026
Acceptance Date
July 31, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication
APA
Yaşar, E., Ergen, F. D., & Arıkan, E. (2026). How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, Advanced Online Publication, 112-125. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1968044
AMA
1.Yaşar E, Ergen FD, Arıkan E. How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):112-125. doi:10.24288/jttr.1968044
Chicago
Yaşar, Emre, Fatma Doğanay Ergen, and Ersin Arıkan. 2026. “How Social Media Sharing Shapes Destination Choice: The Roles of Destination Attractiveness and Tour Programs”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, no. Advanced Online Publication: 112-25. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1968044.
EndNote
Yaşar E, Ergen FD, Arıkan E (August 1, 2026) How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research Advanced Online Publication 112–125.
IEEE
[1]E. Yaşar, F. D. Ergen, and E. Arıkan, “How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs”, Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 112–125, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.24288/jttr.1968044.
ISNAD
Yaşar, Emre - Ergen, Fatma Doğanay - Arıkan, Ersin. “How Social Media Sharing Shapes Destination Choice: The Roles of Destination Attractiveness and Tour Programs”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. Advanced Online Publication (August 1, 2026): 112-125. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1968044.
JAMA
1.Yaşar E, Ergen FD, Arıkan E. How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;:112–125.
MLA
Yaşar, Emre, et al. “How Social Media Sharing Shapes Destination Choice: The Roles of Destination Attractiveness and Tour Programs”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, no. Advanced Online Publication, Aug. 2026, pp. 112-25, doi:10.24288/jttr.1968044.
Vancouver
1.Emre Yaşar, Fatma Doğanay Ergen, Ersin Arıkan. How social media sharing shapes destination choice: The roles of destination attractiveness and tour programs. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026 Aug. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):112-25. doi:10.24288/jttr.1968044