ABSTRACT
As the marine ecosystem deteriorates over time, more efforts are made to raise public awareness. Virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism (VRTME) enhances the travel experiences of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study adopts Maslow's hierarchy of motivational needs and the technology acceptance model to investigate the factors influencing consumers' behavioural intention (BI) towards VRTME and examines their interrelationships. An online survey was conducted with 451 people, and the results were analysed using structural equation modelling. The findings show how motivational constructs, namely, environmental knowledge, biospheric values, risk perception of marine pollution, social susceptibility, and green self-image, as mediated by perceived usefulness (PU), affect the adoption of VRTME. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) further impacted PU. The total effect analysis indicated that PU had the strongest influence, followed by PEOU, social susceptibility, biospheric values, environmental knowledge, green self-image, and risk perception of marine pollution. To substantiate the constructs motivating BI, this study combined two disparate research paradigms centred on the environmental needs and technological characteristics of VRTME. Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature on consumers' adoption of VRTME by introducing new perspectives and recommending policies to raise public awareness and support ongoing conservation efforts.
ABSTRACT
Attributed to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, panic buying is now a frequent occurrence in many countries, leading to stockouts and supply chain disruptions. Consequently, it has received much attention from academics and the retail industry. The aim of this study is to review, identify, and synthesise the psychological causes of panic buying, which is a relatively new and unexplored area in consumer behaviour research. A systematic review of the related literature is conducted. The review suggests that panic buying is influenced by (1) individuals' perception of the threat of the health crisis and scarcity of products; (2) fear of the unknown, which is caused by negative emotions and uncertainty; (3) coping behaviour, which views panic buying as a venue to relieve anxiety and regain control over the crisis; and (4) social psychological factors, which account for the influence of the social network of an individual. This study contributes to the literature by consolidating the scarce and scattered research on the causes of panic buying, drawing greater theoretical insights into each cause and also offers some implications for health professionals, policy makers, and retailers on implementing appropriate policies and strategies to manage panic buying. Recommendations for future research are also provided.