Exploring the Mediating Role of Place Attachment in the Relationship Between Tourism Motivation, Experiential Value, and Tourist Satisfaction: A Case Study of Dongzhaigang Mangrove Nature Reserve
Abstract
areas has become critical for sustainable destination management. This study extends existing research by integrating place attachment as a
mediating variable to examine the relationships between tourism motivation, experiential value, and tourist satisfaction, using Dongzhaigang
Mangrove Nature Reserve (DMNR) in Hainan Province, China, as a case study. A quantitative research design was adopted, with 316 valid
questionnaires collected from DMNR visitors via on-site surveys. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 for descriptive statistics and reliability/validity tests, and SmartPLS 3.0 for structural equation modeling (SEM) and hypothesis verification. Results indicate that: (1) Both push
motivation (e.g., stress relief, knowledge acquisition) and pull motivation (e.g., ecological attraction, cultural uniqueness) positively influence
experiential value and place attachment; (2) Experiential value (encompassing aesthetic, hedonic, economic, and service dimensions) has a
direct positive impact on place attachment and tourist satisfaction; (3) Place attachment partially mediates the relationships between tourism
motivation and satisfaction, as well as between experiential value and satisfaction. These findings provide theoretical insights into the psychological chain of tourist behavior in ecotourism destinations and practical implications for DMNR to enhance tourist loyalty by fostering
place attachment alongside motivation and experiential value.
Keywords
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/fm.v10i6.14336
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