2025/11/22 by Hui Luo, Zengxian Liang, Jie Sun · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Generational Differences and Trends #Media Influence and Health #Media, Gender, and Advertising
paper · doi:10.1080/01490400.2025.2588446
openalex publication_date 2025/11/22 · openalex created_date 2025/11/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
The purpose of this research is to analyze how four different types of interactions (visitor-to-visitor, visitor-to-companion, visitor- to-staff, visitor-to-character), alongside crowding (human crowding, spatial crowding), impact visitors’ experiences at theme parks. Additionally, this study aims to explore the distinct reactions exhibited by Generation Y and Generation Z visitors in response to the various effects of interactions and crowding. A total of 410 valid responses were collected from Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China. PLS-SEM was used to test the research model. This study demonstrated that different interaction patterns exhibited varying effects on visitors’ satisfaction and behavioral intention through positive emotion and highlighted the moderating role of spatial crowding on the effects of interactions. Generation differences in the hypothesized relationships were also detected. The current study’s findings not only extend the existing tourism literature on interactions and crowding but also equip theme park managers with strategies tailored to optimize interactions under varying crowded conditions.