Purpose – This article aims to analyze how the main concepts of Prospect Theory have been applied to tourist decision-making in works using quantitative methods.
Design/methodology/approach – This is a scoping review based on PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using Scopus and Web of Science (June 2025), without temporal delimitation. Eighty-seven quantitative articles focusing on tourist decision-making from the perspective of Prospect Theory were analyzed.
Findings – The results show growing interest in the topic from 2016 onwards. The predominant theme was consumer behavior and decision-making (39 articles), with primary focus on destination choice (25) and hospitality (22). Loss aversion was the most explored principle (31), and behavioral intention was the most investigated psychological variable (41). Risk contexts predominated (55), with experiments (28) and regressions (17) as main methods.
Practical implications – The study provides support for marketing and communication strategies, with message design based on gain or loss framing and the use of certainty and possibility effects in campaigns. It assists managers in pricing, loyalty programs, and guarantees (insurance and flexible cancellations) that reduce tourist risk perception.
Originality/value – The article presents an unprecedented contribution by focusing exclusively on the quantitative perspective, avoiding undue generalizations that occur in reviews mixing qualitative and quantitative methods.
Research limitations – Limitations include researcher bias in article classification; restricted inclusion of English-language publications; analysis limited to title and abstract, potentially omitting relevant works with inclusion criteria not explicit in these fields.
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Turismo: Visão e Ação, linked to the Graduate Program in Tourism and Hospitality - Master's and Ph.D., is a scientific journal published in a continuous flow system, with an interdisciplinary and international scope. According to Qualis/CAPES criteria (2021-2024), it is classified as 'A4' in the fields of Administration, Accounting Sciences, and Tourism. Registered with ISSN number 1983-7151, Tourismo: Visão e Ação began its activities in 1998 with printed publications in English and Portuguese. In 2008, it transitioned to an online publication, expanding its reach to a broader audience. It maintains a policy of being an open-access journal without submission or access fees. The abbreviated title for the journal is Tur., Visão e Ação, commonly used in bibliographies, footnotes, references, and bibliographic captions.
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