Reconceptualizing nostalgia-driven tourist experiences
A systematic review and future research
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11501178 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Xiaoqi Xu (0009-0000-5957-2503, Zhaoqing University, corresponding author), Tao Zeng (0009-0002-0627-8460, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 263 |
| Pages | 106333-106333 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Psychologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106333 |
| PMID | 41619370 |
| OpenAlex | W7126199995 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 71 |
This systematic review synthesizes two decades of nostalgia research in tourism and hospitality, analyzing 89 peer-reviewed articles through the Theory-Context-Characteristics-Method (TCCM) framework. The research reveals nostalgia's evolution from a psychological phenomenon to a strategic driver of consumer behavior, identifying four major research themes: nostalgia-driven consumer behavior, cultural heritage and authenticity, digital tourism innovation, and sports/entertainment-based experiences. Findings demonstrate that nostalgia significantly enhances customer satisfaction, loyalty, and behavioral intentions across diverse contexts, with the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework emerging as the dominant theoretical lens. The research exposes critical gaps including geographical concentration in Asian contexts, methodological overreliance on cross-sectional surveys, and limited exploration of nostalgia's negative dimensions. Future research directions emphasize developing dual-process theories, investigating vicarious nostalgia, employing longitudinal designs, and examining cross-cultural variations. This comprehensive analysis provides both theoretical advancement and practical guidance for leveraging nostalgia in sustainable tourism development
Consumer behaviour · Cultural heritage · Heritage tourism · Phenomenon · Tourism · Tourism geography · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration · Nostalgia and Consumer Behavior
Nostalgia as travel motivation and its impact on tourists' loyalty
Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR‐4‐SLR)
The art of writing literature review
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Street food nostalgia and Covid-19 perceptions on street food desire
When a revenger evolves into a loyal follower
Travel overseas for a game
Perceived authenticity of traditional branded restaurants (China)
The decision-making determinants of sport tourists
The lonely traveller’s mind
Developing a brand heritage model for time-honoured brands
Event motivation, subjective well-being, and revisit intentions during the second wave of the pandemic
Loneliness, travel nostalgia, subjective well-being and prevention regulatory focus
The influence of historical nostalgia on a heritage destination's brand authenticity, brand attachment, and brand equity
A Follow‐Up Study on the Visiting Behavior After the Seoul Halloween Crowd Crush
The effect of tourists’ autobiographical memory on revisit intention
Roles of authenticity and nostalgia in cultural heritage tourists’ travel experience sharing behavior on social media
The effect of historical nostalgia on tourists’ destination loyalty intention
The effects of push and pull travel motivations, personal values, and destination familiarity on tourist loyalty
Could virtual reality effectively market slow travel in a heritage destination
The lasting effect of childhood circus memories
Happiology in community festivals
Gastro-nostalgia
We had the most wonderful times’
Driving nostalgia
Typography and tourism places
Reclaiming heritage from anti-communist discourse
Creating memorable experiences in a reuse heritage site
Consuming colonial nostalgia in Kolkata, India
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |