Beyond Trust: How Usefulness and Immersiveness Drive Space Tourism Intentions in High-Risk Contexts

Abstract

The rapidly evolving space tourism industry faces significant challenges in building consumer trust and balancing emotional appeal with factual accuracy—both essential for reducing uncertainty and fostering long-term public engagement in this high-risk sector. This study examines the key factors shaping individuals’ intentions to participate in space tourism, with a focus on their perceived trustworthiness, usefulness, and immersiveness of information on social media. Applying Mindsponge Theory, we explore the interplay between trust evaluation and subjective cost-benefit judegement of individuals in high-risk tourism context. The findings reveal that while trustworthiness positively influences participation intention, its role diminishes when usefulness and immersiveness are particularly strong. This suggests that space tourists, who are naturally inclined toward risk-taking, prioritize experiential rewards—such as novelty, prestige, and emotional engagement—over concerns about information reliability. These insights offer practical implications for marketing in high-risk industries, highlighting the importance of immersive storytelling, exclusivity, and transformative experiences over conventional trust-building measures. Future research should investigate how personal risk tolerance, prior experience, and cognitive biases shape thought processes, decision-making, and behaviors in extreme tourism contexts.

Author Profiles

Sari Ni Putu Wulan Purnama
Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University
Quan-Hoang Vuong
Phenikaa University
2 more

Analytics

Added to PP
2025-02-03

Downloads
70 (#100,744)

6 months
70 (#79,579)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?