The motivation, constraint, behavior relationship: A holistic approach for understanding international student leisure travelers

Although motivations, constraints, and negotiation strategies influence travel decision-making, few studies have explored them together in a holistic way. This article explored these factors through testing the constraint-effects-mitigation (CEM) model in the tourism context of international university students’ travel. A questionnaire was administered to 373 international university students studying in Australia. The CEM model was only partially supported. Intrapersonal constraints had a stronger influence on travel intention than interpersonal and structural constraints. Behavioral negotiation strategies had a stronger effect on intention than cognitive strategies. Negotiation only partially mediated the relationship between constraints and intention. Practical implications and future research recommendations are also outlined