Workcations as a Pathway to Regional Revitalization in Marine Tourism Destinations: Integrating Tourism Experiences and Migration Theory

Abstract

Regional depopulation and local extinction pose critical challenges, particularly in marine and coastal areas, leading to economic stagnation and community decline. While prior research on workcations has emphasized individual and organizational outcomes, little is known about their broader regional impacts. This study addresses this gap by investigating workcations as a strategy for regional revitalization using a mixed-method design. Study 1 qualitatively examines how workcation experiences shape tourists’ perceptions, place attachment, and attitudes toward workcation, while Study 2 quantitatively tests these relationships using structural equation modeling. The results reveal a progression from revisit intention to long-term stay and migration intention, demonstrating how the experiential dimensions of workcations—restfulness, improvisation, autonomy, and localized engagement—expand aspirations and reduce relocation uncertainties. By integrating migration theory, this study advances the understanding of how work–travel experiences can influence settlement patterns, highlighting workcations as a policy tool to address population decline and support regional sustainability.