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This study aims to investigate potential tourists’ behaviour regarding visiting and recommending a destination based on an image derived from a virtual reality (VR) model, including motivations for travel and place attachment.

The study had two phases and used both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches. The qualitative approach consisted of a focus group conducted to obtain the most important attributes of the destination image. The quantitative approach, which consisted of a self-administered questionnaire, was distributed to all the participants following a VR experience to provide data to empirically test the hypotheses proposed in the conceptual model.

Motivations for travel positively influence the image of a destination in both its cognitive and affective dimensions. Also, the cognitive dimension of destination image influences affective dimension of destination image and both dimensions affect overall destination image. Moreover, destination image, cognitive dimension and affective dimensions influence place dependence and identity. In turn, place dependence and place identity positively influence intention to visit the destination, but not intention to recommend it. Finally, intention to recommend the destination is positively influenced by the intention to visit the destination.

Due to the complexity of the overall experience, the sample was selected purposefully, and all participants belong to Generation Z. Extending this study to other generations would also be valuable.

Although the utility of VR for tourism marketing purposes has been one of the most researched areas during recent years, factors that could encourage tourists to visit destinations previously displayed in VR are not yet identified.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of spirituality and emotional intelligence in understanding creativity, attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behavioural control (PBC) and entrepreneurial intention of students of a Portuguese higher education institution. A conceptual model is proposed representing direct and indirect relationships among these constructs.

A quantitative approach was adopted in the form of a survey questionnaire applied to a sample of 345 university students. To test the hypothesised relationships between the constructs, the authors used the path analysis technique.

Results show that personal attitudes towards entrepreneurship and PBC have a positive effect on entrepreneurial intention, and mediate the effect of emotional intelligence on entrepreneurial intention. Emotional intelligence has a direct positive effect on creativity. The results reveal no or a tenuous influence of spirituality in the various concepts studied.

It is expected that the model can serve as a support for facilitating and promoting entrepreneurship in higher education environments. It could be of valuable use to furthering our understanding of the role of individual/psychological characteristics, motivational and attitudinal factors in fostering entrepreneurial intention of university students.

Some studies suggest that psychological factors play an essential role in developing alternative models to the entrepreneurial process. However, the studies that directly explore how individual differences in emotional intelligence, spirituality and creativity relate to entrepreneurial intention are relatively few.