Conceptualization and Measurement of Dimensionality of Place Attachment

Abstract

To extend the discussion and application of place attachment to tourism-relevant contexts, this article proposes two neglected dimensions: place memory and place expectation. Combining these dimensions, a six-dimension construct of place attachment is tested using confirmatory factor analysis and found to be a good fit for data collected from two places: Sydney, Australia and Shanghai, China. The new dimensionality includes an individual's past experience and future expectations of his/her attachment to a place, and thus has a potential to interpret one's attachment to a place based on a shorter term stay. The implications of the study for researchers and destination managers are discussed.