Investigating the effects of tourist engagement on satisfaction and loyalty

Tourist engagement significantly boosts satisfaction and loyalty at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly in Kinabalu National Park. The study reveals that deepening tourist involvement enhances both immediate satisfaction and long-term destination loyalty, with satisfaction acting as a strong mediator between engagement and loyalty. Researchers used advanced statistical modeling—confirmatory composite analysis combined with consistent partial least squares path modeling—to analyze data from visitors. These findings provide actionable insights for local authorities to sustain tourism development while preserving heritage integrity.

Rasoolimanesh, S. M., Md Noor, S., Schuberth, F., & Jaafar, M. (2019). Investigating the effects of tourist engagement on satisfaction and loyalty. The Service Industries Journal, 39(7-8), 559–574. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2019.1570152