The efficacy of the theory of planned behavior for predicting intentions to choose a travel destination: a review

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited.Purpose: The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) considers the interrelationship between such concepts as beliefs, attitudes, norms, intentions and behaviour (Ajzen, 1991; Ajzen and Fishbein, 1975). Based on a review of academic sources, this paper aims to analyse the efficacy of the TPB for predicting people’s intentions when choosing a travel destination. Design/methodology/approach: Surprisingly, only 15 studies were identified that used TPB to predict the choice of travel destination, though the theory has been used in other areas of tourism analysis. Findings: Mixed results were found in the studies. Therefore, the adequacy of the TPB for predicting travellers’ intentions of choosing a destination may be questioned. However, there is nothing in the TPB suggesting that all the constructs of the model must contribute equally, significantly and simultaneously to behavioural intentions. Originality/value: To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the intentions in question, the TPB model may have to be extended to suit different settings. The decision-making process of choosing a destination is a complicated one; therefore, researchers’ attention should not only consider travellers’ intentions but also the direct effect of intentions on the actual behaviour