Validating the Community Forest Intention Model: Exploring Tourist Experience, Satisfaction, and Sustainable Intentions in Community-Based Ecotourism

Sakol Teeravarunyou (), Kochahem Kamolwit, Pongsak Kitirojpan, Pavinee Pattanachan, Bundit Tirachulee and Sasidhorn Buddhawong
Additional contact information
Sakol Teeravarunyou: School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Kochahem Kamolwit: School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Pongsak Kitirojpan: School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Pavinee Pattanachan: Environmental and Energy Management for Community and Circular Economy (EEC&C) Research Group, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Bundit Tirachulee: Environmental and Energy Management for Community and Circular Economy (EEC&C) Research Group, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Sasidhorn Buddhawong: Environmental and Energy Management for Community and Circular Economy (EEC&C) Research Group, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: Community-based ecotourism in community forests, such as Suan Pa Ket Nom Klao, Thailand, offers a promising avenue for promoting sustainable development through meaningful tourist experiences. This study develops and validates the Community Forest Intention Model (CFIM) to examine the relationships among Tourist Experience (TE), Tourist Satisfaction (SAT), and Sustainable Intention (SI) using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected from 128 participants who engaged in six structured activities at Suan Pa Ket Nom Klao, with responses measured via a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. The results indicate that TE, comprising Service Quality, Accessibility, and Learning Engagement, significantly influences SAT (R 2 = 0.562), with Learning Engagement exerting the strongest effect (β = 0.413; p < 0.001). SAT, in turn, positively predicts SI (β = 0.502; p < 0.001; R 2 = 0.252). All hypothesized paths were statistically significant, confirming the model’s validity. These findings highlight the critical role of educational and service-related experiences in fostering tourist satisfaction and sustainable behaviors. This study provides actionable insights for enhancing ecotourism programs to support conservation and community engagement.

Keywords: community forest; tourist experience; behavioral intention; satisfaction; PLS-SEM; sustainable tourism; ecotourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7644/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7644/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7644-:d:1731760

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().