Satisfaction Factors That Predict Loyalty in Ecotourism: A Study of Foreign Tourism in Costa Rica

Abstract

Recently, foreign tourists have revealed a growing interest for natural environment enjoyment. This study aimed to: (a) identify the service satisfaction factors and (b) analyze the influence that satisfaction factors exert on the loyalty of ecotourists. The empirical analysis was carried out in Arenal National Park and Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica, a country with international prominence in ecotourism due to the wealth of resources in its protected areas. A factorial analysis and the stepwise multiple regression method were performed for the data analysis of 246 surveys made in situ. Results show three satisfaction factors in ecotourism: “nature and culture”, “infrastructure”, and “service”, where “nature and culture” was the most influential predictor of tourists’ loyalty. The study also found a positive correlation between satisfaction and loyalty in ecotourism. This research will provide relevant insights to public institutions and private companies efficient planning and benefit the community and protected areas.

Mining Educational Trail in Slovakia

“…At this level, it was important to reflect on and respond to the views of residents, which expressed satisfaction with the site in relation to tourism (eco and geotourism). According to the authors [42], there exist factors of satisfaction. These act positively on the transfer of information about destinations and present a willingness to return to a place.…”

“…Well-functioning ecotourism (as well as other types of tourism) deeply influences consumer satisfaction and, therefore, the return of tourists. As a result, the destination and its community will benefit through higher incomes and increased employment [42].…”

The Effects of Perceived Cultural and Tourism Public Services on Visitor Satisfaction and Quality of Life: A Multiple Mediation Model

“…A team of five highly skilled research assistants was hired to gather the data. This study, similar to previous research, employed convenience sampling as a method to select participants, based on the accessibility and availability of visitors to complete the questionnaires [50][51][52][53][54]. In order to ascertain the similarity between the sample and the population, the present study considered the representativeness of the visitor population.…”