Structural Relationships between Ecotourism Village Visitors' Motivation, Value, Satisfaction, and Loyalty

Abstract

This study examines the structural relationships between ecotourism village visitors' motivation, value, satisfaction, and loyalty. A self-administered survey was conducted based on 254 visitors to six ecotourism villages. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, there were four underlying dimensions of motivation (relaxation, adventure, nature experience, and learning) and on underlying dimension of value (tourism). According to structural equation modeling, relaxation had a positive effect on economic value, and relaxation and learning had positive effects of functional value. Relaxation had a positive effect on social value. Economic, emotional, and social value had positive effects on ecotourism village visitors' satisfaction, and economic value had the greatest effect on satisfaction. Satisfaction had a positive effect on destination loyalty. The results imply that economic, emotional, and social value played important mediating roles in the relationship between motivation and satisfaction.