The impact of destination security threats on tourist intentions through perceived credibility and celebrity influence with a three-way moderation approach

This study investigates how social factors and perceived enjoyment influence tourists’ intention to visit, while examining the moderating role of destination security threats and perceived credibility and influence of the celebrity. Grounded in Social Influence Theory (SIT), the study applied structural equation modelling on 540 valid responses collected through convenience sampling. Findings reveal that SIT factors (identification, internalisation, and compliance) significantly predict perceived enjoyment, which in turn positively impacts tourist intention to visit. Destination security threats were found to negatively moderate this relationship, whereas perceived credibility and influence of the celebrity served as a positive moderator. Moreover, perceived credibility and influence of the celebrity demonstrated a three-way moderating effect, mitigating the adverse influence of destination security threats on perceived enjoyment and tourist intention. Theoretically, this study advances SIT by introducing a novel three-way moderation mechanism, demonstrating how perceived credibility and influence of the celebrity can buffer the negative impact of security threats on tourist psychological evaluations and behavioural intentions. Practically, the study offers implications for governments and tourism firms aiming to enhance destination attractiveness through strategic communication and endorsement strategies.