ABSTRACT
This study, involving Generation X (Gen X) and Generation Y (Gen Y) tourists as subjects, explored the relationships among hot spring tourists’ leisure experience, quality of friendship, and happiness. Data analysis was done through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) which revealed that tourists with better leisure experience have a higher sense of happiness and stronger relationship with friends. Further, tourists with stronger relationships with friends have a higher sense of happiness. This study also found that friendship has a mediation effect on the relationship between leisure experience and happiness.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.