Motivation, Satisfaction, Place Attachment, and Return Intention to Natural Destinations: A Structural Analysis of Ayabaca Moorlands, Peru

Priscila E. Luján Vera, Joyce Mamani Cornejo, María Verónica Seminario Morales and Rosse Marie Esparza-Huamanchumo ()
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Priscila E. Luján Vera: Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y de Turismo, Universidad Nacional de Frontera, Sullana 20601, Peru
Joyce Mamani Cornejo: Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y de Turismo, Universidad Nacional de Frontera, Sullana 20601, Peru
María Verónica Seminario Morales: Departamento Académico de Matemáticas y Estadística, Universidad Nacional de Frontera, Sullana 20601, Peru
Rosse Marie Esparza-Huamanchumo: Facultad de Administración Hotelera, Turismo y Gastronomia, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima 15024, Peru

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: This study examines the relationships among motivation, satisfaction, place attachment, and revisit intention in the context of ecotourism in the Ayabaca Moorlands, a biodiverse Andean ecosystem of high cultural significance in northern Peru. Using a non-experimental quantitative design, data were collected from 350 national and international visitors and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings reveal that while motivation does not directly influence place attachment, it significantly affects satisfaction and revisit intention. Results provide empirical evidence that satisfying experiences foster enduring emotional bonds with environmentally sensitive destinations. The study underscores the importance of tourism management strategies that cultivate emotional connections and visitor loyalty while integrating cultural and contextual factors to ensure the long-term sustainability of high-mountain ecotourism.

Keywords: ecotourism; tourist motivation; place attachment; return intention; visitor loyalty; Ayabaca Moorlands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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