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Abstract
Using place attachment theory, we test a conceptual model that postulates tourist motivation, overall attitude, and place attachment as significant predictors of tourists’ intentions to recommend a destination. Existing studies fail to evaluate the influence of both motivation and overall attitude on place attachment. The conceptual model is tested on a sample of 275 domestic visitors to the island of Sardinia, Italy. The results show that motives such as socialization, novelty and learning, and escape and relaxation have positive relationships with overall attitude and place attachment. Both overall attitude and place attachment are significant predictors of intention to recommend. The findings have several theoretical and managerial implications for destination marketing and the development of place attachment.