What drives tourists to take a digital-free tourism?

This study utilizes a combined model of two social cognitive models, protection motivation theory and theory of planned behavior, to analyze how smartphone use triggers the demand for DFT. For this purpose, this study conducted an online survey and used the quota sampling method. Of the collected response sheets, a total of 534 valid samples were used in the final analysis. The analysis verified the hypothesis using confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. This study presented that regarding threat and coping appraisals of smartphone use, perceived vulnerability and response efficacy positively affect protection motivation. And perceived subjective norm affects protection motivation. This result of study fills a gap in the field of DFT research through quantitative research and provides practical evidence that helps to capture the needs of DFT tourists and provides suggestions for the construction of DFT environments.