Motivations and their influence on satisfaction and loyalty in eco-tourism: a study of the foreign tourist in Costa Rica

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to a) analyze the underlying variables of motivations in eco-tourism; and b) find the underlying variables of the motives that predict satisfaction, return, recommendation, and saying positive things of the eco-tourism site. The study took place in the Arenal National Park and the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica. The sample consisted of 246 surveys obtained in-situ. For data analysis, a factor analysis, and the stepwise multiple regression method were performed. The results show six motivational dimensions in eco-tourism: Self-development, Interpersonal relationships and ego-defensive function, Nature, Reward, Building personal relationships, and Escape. There is a positive relationship between motivations and satisfaction and loyalty, with “Reward” and “Nature” as the most influential variables.

KEYWORDS:

• Motivations
• satisfaction
• loyalty
• eco-tourism
• costa rica

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mauricio Carvache-Franco

Mauricio Carvache-Franco is researcher at Espíritu Santo University, Samborondón, Ecuador. He has a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain). His research interests include marketing, consumer behavior, ecotourism and tourism marketing (E-mail: [email protected]).

Allan Pérez-Orozco

Allan Pérez-Orozco, I am a professor and researcher at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, with a Master's degree in Magister Scientiae in Business Research and Doctoral student in Business Management at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica. My research interests are entrepreneurship, marketing, neuromarketing and tourism (E-mail: [email protected]).

Wilmer Carvache-Franco

Wilmer Carvache-Franco is professor and researcher in Faculty of Social and Humanistic Sciences at Espol Polytechnic University, Guayaquil, Ecuador. His research interests center on tourism marketing, coastal tourism and festivals (E-mail: [email protected]).

Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua

Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua is professor and researcher in Technological Institute of Costa Rica. She is Magister Scientiae in Business Research and Doctoral student in Business Management at Technological Institute of Costa Rica. His research lines focus on entrepreneurship, marketing, and e-learning (E-mail: [email protected]).

Orly Carvache-Franco

Orly Carvache-Franco is a Master in Business Administration at the University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada. Doctoral student in Strategic Business Administration from Centrum Business School- PUCP- Peru. His research interests center on innovation, tourism and marketing (E-mail: [email protected]).