The Fun Factor: Unlocking Place Love Through Exceptional Tourist Experiences

Hyeyoon Choi (), Hwansuk Chris Choi and Lena Jingen Liang
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Hyeyoon Choi: Department of Recreation, Sport Pedagogy and Consumer Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Hwansuk Chris Choi: School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Lena Jingen Liang: Department of Business, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Fun plays a pivotal role in unlocking positive outcomes. Tourists can fall head over heels for a destination or lose interest as they immerse themselves in their journey. This study examined the mediating role of fun in the relationship between service excellence and place love and further investigated how expectation congruence moderates this effect. Our findings reveal that service excellence exerts significant influences on all dimensions of fun. Moreover, the four dimensions of fun—social vigor, emotional spark, psychological zest, and flow–significantly affect place love. Additionally, expectation congruence significantly moderates the effect of service excellence on flow and emotional spark.

Keywords: fun; service excellence; place love; expectation congruence; motive consistency; tourism experience (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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