The Materialism-Compulsive Consumption Pathway in Sport Tourism

Buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) services can accelerate consumption, potentially trapping users in debt fueled by materialism. This phenomenon is critical in the tourism sector, where emotional and impulsive purchasing is common. Therefore, this research aims to investigate how materialism can influence BNPL use and impulsive and compulsive buying, focusing specifically on tourism consumption (e.g., spontaneous destination bookings, premium upgrades, and on-site purchases). Additionally, the authors examine if BNPL use and impulsive buying mediate the underlying relationship between materialism and compulsive buying. Utilizing a quantitative research design, this paper analyzes survey data collected from 204 BNPL users. The survey investigates participants' usage of BNPL services and assesses their levels of materialism, compulsive buying, and impulsive buying through validated psychological scales. Preliminary analysis indicates a significant correlation between BNPL usage and heightened levels of materialism, as well as increased tendencies towards compulsive and impulsive buying behaviors. These findings suggest that Fintech solutions like BNPL, by easing the immediate financial pain of high-ticket travel purchases, may encourage consumer behaviors linked to negative financial and psychological outcomes. This research contributes significantly to the limited literature on tourism consumer behavior and Fintech in travel by providing empirical evidence on the relationship between BNPL use and consumer psychographics (materialism) that drives compulsive purchasing. It clarifies the mediating mechanism through which BNPL facilitates irrational and financially risky tourism spending. The study acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on self-reported data and the potential for social desirability bias. The insights are vital for tourism policymakers and destination marketers, highlighting the ethical need for greater consumer protection and financial education regarding BNPL use, especially in spontaneous travel purchasing decisions, to prevent debt traps from compulsive tourism consumption

Consumer behaviour · Empirical research · Materialism · Mediation · Purchasing · Sharing economy · Tourism · Consumer Retail Behavior Studies · Sharing Economy and Platforms · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour