This　study　aims　to　deepen　the　understanding　of　tourism　photography　by　developing　and　testing　a　theoretical　model　that　accounts　for　the　relationships　between　visual　esthetics　and　destination　choice　intention　of　tourists.　Thus,　we　sought　to　use　a　stimulus-organism-response　(S-O-R)　paradigm　to　predict　destination　choice　intention,　which　includes　three　variables　related　to　visual　esthetics:　first　impression,　visual　appeal,　and　esthetic　emotion.　We　used　the　combination　of　self-reported　and　eye　movement　data　to　examine　the　cognitive　processes　of　tourists　that　visual　esthetic　formation.　We　found　that　compared　to　the　built　environment　and　amateur　esthetic　images,　natural　environment　and　professional　esthetic　images　can　get　(1)　higher　visual　appeal,　(2)　better　first　impression,　and　(3)　higher　visual　processing　fluency　(or　less　cognitive　effort)　and　positive　esthetic　emotions.　Furthermore,　visual　appeal,　first　impression,　and　esthetic　emotion　deriving　from　environment　esthetics　and　photograph　esthetics　have　a　positive　impact　on　destination　choice　intention.　This　study　has　practical　implications　for　destination　planning　and　management.