Place attachment: developing measurement scale based on three destinations

ABSTRACT

While destinations are increasingly tried to attract tourists, changing times call for developing a measurement scale for place attachment. In this regard, the current study adopts a secure attachment theory perspective and develops a robust formative measurement scale for place attachment composed of place identity and dependence, cultural bonding, climate and nature, personal relationships and safety and security. Two domestic destinations (Kerala and Tamil Nadu) in the country (India) and one international destination (the Middle East) were employed to validate the factor structure of place attachment. Using online survey, the study obtained the perceptual responses and were analysed using ADANCO 2.2. Findings suggest place attachment as a higher-order formative construct that significantly enhances willingness to recommend and revisit intentions.

KEYWORDS:

• Place attachment
• tourist behaviour
• cultural bonding
• domestic destinations
• revisit intentions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Santanu Mandal

Santanu Mandal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Business Analytics at GITAM Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam, India. His research interests are in technology management, service operations and healthcare operations.

Payel Das

Payel Das is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communications, XIM University, India. Her area of interest is social media studies, advertising, tourism, food nostalgia, branding, corporate social responsibility, public relations, media culture and society, and gender studies.

Arun Chandran

Arun Chandran is a Doctoral Research Scholar at Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India. His research interests are in sustainable tourism, online reviews and customer relationship management.

Js Krishnaunni

Js Krishnaunni is a post-graduate student at Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India.

Haripriya Murali

Haripriya Murali is a post-graduate student at Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India.