Virtual cyclotourism: the interplay of vividness, interactivity, and telepresence
Md. Salamun Rashidin, Babak Taheri, Giacomo Del Chiappa, A S.Sobihatun Nur · Tourism Recreation Research · 2025
While the tourism sector has recognized the potential of virtual reality (VR), patient cyclotourism remains underexplored. This study investigates the psychological mechanisms through which VR travel influences patient behavioural responses. Study 1 examined how patient virtual cycling impacts user experience using the integrated Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR), Flow, and Telepresence Theory. An experiment with 129 participants across three destinations revealed that vividness, interactivity, and perceived usefulness significantly affect telepresence and flow experience, leading to hedonic benefits and influencing behavioural intentions, including word-of-mouth (WOM), electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), and intention to visit. Study 2, involving 33 clinical participants, identified psychological and medication-related differences in patient virtual cycling experiences. These findings offer practical insights for tourism professionals to enhance virtual experiences and contribute to VR research in tourism and hospitality. The study underscores the potential of VR-based cyclotourism to improve accessibility, well-being, and destination promotion strategies.