Place identity as a mediator between motivation and tourist loyalty in ‘red tourism’

Abstract

This paper constructs a theoretical analysis model based on the theories of planned behaviour, consumer emotion and identity by surveying tourists in Zunyi city, China and employing structural equation modelling to explore the influence mechanisms of tourist motivation, satisfaction and place identity on the loyalty of ‘red tourism’. The research results demonstrated a relationship between tourist motivation, satisfaction, place identity and tourist loyalty and thus confirmed the theoretical model. Tourist satisfaction and place identity are important means by which tourist motivation affects the loyalty of red tourism. However, tourist motivation cannot directly affect red tourism loyalty, though it can indirectly affect it via satisfaction and place identity. Tourist motivation not only directly influences the satisfaction of red tourism but also indirectly influences it through place identity. Furthermore, tourist motivation affects place identity. The mere recognition of place identity does not automatically attract tourists’ loyalty but can, through their experiencing satisfaction, indirectly inspire it. Nevertheless, place identity can only directly affect tourist satisfaction, and tourist satisfaction can only directly affect red tourism loyalty.