The Influence of Destination Image on Tourist Loyalty and Intention to Visit: Testing a Multiple Mediation Approach

Shahida Kanwel, Zhou Lingqiang, Muhammad Asif, Jinsoo Hwang, Abid Hussain and Arif Jameel
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Shahida Kanwel: Tourism & Hotel Management, School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhou Lingqiang: Tourism & Hotel Management, School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Muhammad Asif: School of Public Affairs, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jinsoo Hwang: The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-Dong, Gwanjin-Gu, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Abid Hussain: School of Public Affairs, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Arif Jameel: School of Public Affairs, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: Pakistan holds an important geographical status, but extremism and sabotage have severely damaged the tourism industry. In the present study, we examined the impact of destination image (DI) on tourist loyalty (TL) and intension to visit (IV) in Pakistan. Additionally, the study analyzed the mediation effects of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and tourist satisfaction (TS) on these relationships. Data was collected from 780 tourists in Pakistan. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to obtain the results. Our results demonstrated the positive relationships among DI, eWOM, TS, TL, and IV. This study also disclosed that eWOM has a partial mediation effect on the DI–TL relationship, and both eWOM and TS fully mediate the association between DI and IV. Hence, tourist satisfaction can be enhanced by eWOM and destination image, which directly effect tourist loyalty and intention to visit in Pakistan. The proposed framework and research findings will help stakeholders significantly to recognize the multi-facet association in the tourism industry of Pakistan. Testing the above relationships through multiple mediators is a relatively novel idea.

Keywords: destination image; electronic word of mouth; tourists’ satisfaction; tourists’ loyalty; intention to visit; SEM; developing nation; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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