Investigating the effect of tourism with virtual reality technology on tourists' satisfaction through the mediation of behavioral intentions and moderating of Corona conditions

COVID-19 epidemic disease has become a major health concern worldwide that can affect social responsibility as well as quality of life. During the COVID-19 epidemic disease, researchers are using innovative technologies to end this threat. In tourism, virtual reality (VR) is one such technology. Virtual reality technology provides the user with a virtual environment so that he can do what he/she cannot do in a real environment or does not have the necessary conditions to do in this virtual environment by simulating realities.However, despite broad, studies, little research has been observed in this field in Iran, especially in tourism.Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of tourism with virtual reality technology on tourists' satisfaction through the mediation of behavioral intentions and moderating of Corona conditions. The statistical sample of this research includes 368 visitors from three different tourist attractions using virtual reality technology. In order to research data collection, an online questionnaire and convenience sampling method were used. The reliability and validity of the research structures were confirmed using Cronbach's alpha and the average variance extracted (AVE). The research hypotheses were tested using Smart PLS3 software. The results showed that the interest in virtual reality tourism has a positive relationship with behavioral intentions in tourism. The interest in virtual reality tourism affects tourists' satisfaction through behavioral intentions. It should also be noted that social responsibility in the corona period does not moderate the relationship between behavioral intentions and tourist satisfaction