Effects of Food Experience, Emotion, and Place Attachment on Heritage Tourists’ Revisit Intention

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between food experience, emotion, place attachment, and tourists' revisit behavioral intention. A survey questionnaire is conducted on-site in Lukang and distributed to 408 tourists. The dimensions of food experience are established through factor analysis, and a hypothesized model of the relationships between the constructs is tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicate that tourists' food experiences included local flavor, media recommendation, local learning, life transfer, and interpersonal sharing. In addition, food experience has a significant impact on emotion and place attachment, and emotion has a substantial effect on place attachment. Finally, place attachment significantly impacts tourists' revisit behavioral intention. The study makes a significant theoretical contribution by identifying food experience, emotion, and place attachment as the salient predictors of heritage tourists' revisit intention. Furthermore, the study suggests that food experiences enhance effective bonding at tourism destinations.

Citation

Li, A.-N., Dai, Y.-D., Tsai, T., Yeh, G.-T. and Chen, Y.-C. (2023), "Effects of Food Experience, Emotion, and Place Attachment on Heritage Tourists’ Revisit Intention", Chen, J.S. (Ed.) Advances in Hospitality and Leisure (Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, Vol. 19), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 121-139. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-354220230000019007