Modeling reference experience in destination choice

Abstract The complexity underlying the destination decision-making of tourists has prompted abundant research from various academic disciplines. This paper proposes the integration of the leisure tourists’ past reference experience into a model for long-haul destination choice. By analyzing the preference of tourists regarding various attributes of a tourist destination, this study consolidates the concept of reference-dependent behavior in the context of tourist destination choice and introduces the concept of reference-level bias. The research findings provide theoretical and managerial implications.