This study explores the mechanism behind Korean travelers' destination trust and behaviors toward China after the COVID-19 pandemic, considering destination image and perceived government policy responsiveness. Data from Korean nationals who have traveled to China in the last five years revealed that destination trust mediates the impact of image factors on travel and recommendation intentions. Perceived government policy responsiveness significantly strengthened the effect of image factors on destination trust. The study also found varying importance of image factors in trust formation and destination behaviors, offering theoretical insights into post-crisis tourism recovery and practical guidance for Chinese tourism stakeholders.

Heesup Han, Hong Ngoc Nguyen, Sanghyeop Lee, Wei Quan