Analysis of the Mediating Role of Place Attachment in the Link between Tourists’ Authentic Experiences of, Involvement in, and Loyalty to Rural Tourism

Abstract

The sustainable development of rural tourism is conducive to awakening “sleeping” resources, upgrading the industrial structure in rural areas, enhancing the revitalization ability of rural areas, accelerating the construction of cultural tourism, and promoting the strategy of rural revitalization. The loyalty of tourists has been considered as an important construct to describe the relationship between rural tourism growth and travelers’ future behavioral intentions. This study aims to integrate the relationship between authentic experience, involvement, place attachment, and loyalty into rural tourism research. The results of the study showed that tourists’ authentic experience and tourism participation have a significantly positive effect on place identity and place dependence (two different dimensions of place attachment), and authentic experience significantly positively affects involvement. Place identity and place dependence greatly and positively affect tourist loyalty. Furthermore, place dependence and place identity play a comprehensive mediating role in the relationship between authentic experience, involvement, and loyalty. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation and a point of reference for rural destinations in developing additional strategies and initiatives.

Tourists’ Food Involvement, Place Attachment, and Destination Loyalty: The Moderating Role of Lifestyle

“…In a study by Hsu and Scott (2020) [ 18 ], it was suggested that food experience plays a crucial role in positively influencing place attachment in travel destinations. Similarly, Wang et al [ 80 ] conducted a study on rural tourism and found that tourism involvement significantly influences place attachment. Furthermore, Chen [ 81 ] investigated the relationship between involvement and place attachment in film tourism and discovered that celebrity involvement affects tourists’ place attachment to the destination.…”

“…Tourism studies have revealed that both dimensions of place attachment (identity and dependence) positively impact tourists’ intention to recommend the destination to their friends or to revisit it [ 84 , 85 ]. Moreover, Wang et al [ 80 ] investigated the mediating role of place attachment in the context of rural tourism. The results of their study reveal that place identity and place dependence mediate the relationship between involvement and loyalty.…”

Examination of Holiday Habits in Hungary, With Special Regard to Rural Tourism

“…Through their wishes, tourists contribute directly to the formation of the tourist product, and through local and authentic experiences, the tourist destination becomes popular (Csurgó and Smith, 2021). Rural areas have their own authenticity, and the perception of this authenticity by tourists through the tourist experience helps to form the identity of the place, thus becoming a destination (Wang et al, 2022) Although rural tourism has been considered a factor contributing to local development (Iorio and Corsale, 2010), nowadays, this sector joins the other branches in tourism and holds a spot on the tourism market. Thus, the offer and the demand in the sector are factors that contribute to the existence and the development of this branch of tourism.…”

Investigating the Impacts of Selfie Tourism on Place Attachment in Marsa Alam City

“…Studies have revealed that feeling nostalgic and deeply attached to a certain place or destination would profoundly influence people"s behavior regarding the place and motivate them to spread positive WOM. Additionally, it would result in loyalty which refers to the state of being emotionally and psychologically committed and willing to keep revisiting a certain destination (Wang et al, 2022;Lee and Jeong, 2021).…”