Do natural soundscapes touch your heart? The nexus between natural soundscape perception and tourists’ behavioural intention

Abstract

Previous research often overlooks the impact of soundscapes on the tourist experience as independent factors. This study develops a theoretical model that explains the relationship between the natural soundscape perception and behavioural intentions among Chinese tourists surveyed at Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park from June to July 2022. We employed the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling to analyse 396 questionnaires, and the results indicate that the natural soundscape perception has a positive influence on tourists’ sense of tranquillity and their restorative experiences. Both tranquillity and restorative experiences positively affect behavioural intentions. However, the natural soundscape perception does not have a direct impact on behavioural intentions. Furthermore, sense of tranquillity and restorative experiences serve as full mediators between the natural soundscape perception and behavioural intentions. This study provides a new theoretical explanation to understand the formation mechanism of tourists’ behavioural intention in nature-based tourism, and advocates for further research into tourists’ emotional well-being and restorative experiences through environmental stimuli like soundscapes. It also provides valuable insights for managers of natural destinations to enhance tourists’ experiences.