What if I shy away from cash payments during travel? The changing dynamics of intentions to use digital payment systems

This study investigates how users’ perceived risk influences their trust in digital payment systems and their intention to use such systems during travel. Analyzing 386 survey responses, the research finds that higher perceived risk reduces both trust and willingness to use digital payments while traveling. However, trust positively affects users’ intention to adopt these systems and acts as a mediator between perceived risk and intention to use. The study also reveals that personal innovativeness among users can moderate the negative impact of perceived risk on trust, helping to offset risk concerns. Notably, this research is among the first to highlight how tourists’ innovativeness can buffer the adverse effects of perceived risk in the context of digital payment adoption, suggesting new directions for interdisciplinary research that connects technology acceptance, personality traits, and tourism behaviors.