Satisfaction Factors That Predict Loyalty in Ecotourism: A Study of Foreign Tourism in Costa Rica

Mauricio Carvache-Franco, Wilmer Carvache-Franco, Allan Pérez-Orozco, Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua and Orly Carvache-Franco
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Mauricio Carvache-Franco: Facultad de Turismo y Hotelería, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón 092301, Ecuador
Wilmer Carvache-Franco: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanísticas, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil 09015863, Ecuador
Allan Pérez-Orozco: Escuela de Administración de Empresas, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 1597050, Costa Rica
Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua: Escuela de Administración de Empresas, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 1597050, Costa Rica
Orly Carvache-Franco: Facultad de Especialidades Empresariales, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil 090615, Ecuador

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Recently, foreign tourists have revealed a growing interest for natural environment enjoyment. This study aimed to: (a) identify the service satisfaction factors and (b) analyze the influence that satisfaction factors exert on the loyalty of ecotourists. The empirical analysis was carried out in Arenal National Park and Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica, a country with international prominence in ecotourism due to the wealth of resources in its protected areas. A factorial analysis and the stepwise multiple regression method were performed for the data analysis of 246 surveys made in situ. Results show three satisfaction factors in ecotourism: “nature and culture”, “infrastructure”, and “service”, where “nature and culture” was the most influential predictor of tourists’ loyalty. The study also found a positive correlation between satisfaction and loyalty in ecotourism. This research will provide relevant insights to public institutions and private companies efficient planning and benefit the community and protected areas.

Keywords: satisfaction; loyalty; ecotourism; foreign tourist; Costa Rica (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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