Decoding Host-Tourist Interaction and Tourists’ Intention to Revisit: A Mediation Model of Place Attachment

Abstract

The main aim of the investigation is to explore how the interaction between hosts and tourists influences tourists' intention to revisit a particular destination. Furthermore, the study seeks to examine the role of place attachment in mediating the relationship between host-tourist interactions and revisiting intention. In this regard, a questionnaire was developed based on existing literature and subjected to a pilot study to ensure its validity and reliability. The research employed a descriptive research design and adopted a positivist approach. A total of 360 valid questionnaires were analysed for the study, which were collected from tourists visiting Kashmir Valley using convenience sampling. The collected data were processed using SPSS and Smart-PLS software. The results of the analysis indicated a significant and positive correlation between host-tourist interaction and tourists' intention to revisit the destination. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that place attachment played a mediating role in the connection between host tourist interaction and revisit intention. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting interactions between hosts and tourists, as they have the potential to positively influence tourists' likelihood of revisiting the destination. By fostering meaningful connections and attachment to the place, the destination can enhance the overall experience for tourists, increasing the probability of their return visits.

Keywords

• host-tourist interaction
• functional
• expressive
• hedonic
• revisit intention
• place attachment