Zhihao Chen

The purpose of this study is to understand the self-drive tourists’ decision-making process and corresponding spatial behaviour. This research aims to achieve two objectives. The first objective is to examine the spatial behaviour of self-drive tourists. The second objective is to explore the decision-making processes that underpin the associated spatial behaviour. The research centres on the context of the Chinese self-drive domestic market prior to and post-the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Building on the findings, the study will propose a framework to provide a holistic process on forming the spatial behaviour of self-drive tourists. This framework can also apply to wider academic contexts that contribute to existing theory. The practical contribution of this study lies with the enhanced understanding of the self-drive domestic market aiding better decisions by travel organisers and tourism policymakers.