A systematic review of cognitive biases in tourist decisions

This study examines articles related to tourist decision making, especially with respect to cognitive biases, published in the Journal of Travel Research, Annals of Tourism Research, and Tourism Management over the past 10 years (from January 2008 to September 2018). Tourists do not always make rational choices due to the influence of behavioral factors, such as dispositions and emotions. According to the study of judgment and decision making, cognitive biases are the main underlying causes of suboptimal decisions. Through a systematic analysis, this study reveals the prevalence and influence of common biases at different stages of travel, such as pre-trip, on-site, and post-trip. This study also summarizes implications for tourism management and proposes areas of potential research contributions.