Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2024-4
The influence of study abroad experience on the destination loyalty of international students: Mediating effects of emotional solidarity and destination image
The objective of this study was to explore the influence of study abroad experience on destination loyalty and discuss the mediating role of emotional solidarity and destination image in the context of higher edutourism. A questionnaire survey was conducted among international students studying in China and 335 valid questionnaires were selected. Results of the path analysis conducted revealed that the following: (1) The study abroad experience had a significant positive effect on the international students’ destination loyalty. (2) Both emotional solidarity and destination image played a mediating role between the study abroad experience and destination loyalty of international students. (3) Emotional solidarity had a significant positive effect on the destination image of international students. (4) Emotional solidarity and destination image played a chain-mediating role between the study abroad experience and destination loyalty of international students. The results of this study could help promote destination loyalty among international students by enhancing interactions between international students and local residents, and establishing a positive image of the study destination, which is beneficial to the development of local tourism and higher education at the theoretical and practical level.
AlexandrisK (2006) Increasing customers’ loyalty in a skiing resort: the contribution of place attachment and service quality. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management18(5): 414–425.
2.
ArdyanEWibisonoU (2019) Between self congruity, destination relationship and memorable tourist experience: an empiric study on the loyalty of tourist destination. Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen10(1): 111–123.
3.
BalogluS (2001) Image variations of Turkey by familiarity index: informational and experiential dimensions. Tourism Management22(2): 127–133.
BergerJ (2014) Word of mouth and interpersonal communication: a review and directions for future research. Journal of Consumer Psychology24(4): 586–607.
6.
BignéJESánchezMISánchezJ (2001) Tourism image, evaluation variables, and after purchase behavior: inter-relationship. Tourism Management26: 607–616.
7.
BordiaSBordiaPMilkovitzM, et al. (2018) What do international students really want? An exploration of the content of international students’ psychological contract in business education. Studies in Higher Education44(8): 1488–1502.
8.
BosqueIRMartínHS (2008) Tourist satisfaction: a cognitive-affective model. Annals of Tourism Research35(2): 551–573.
9.
CaldeiraAMKastenholzE (2017) Tourists’ spatial behaviour in urban destinations: the effect of prior destination experience. Journal of Vacation Marketing24(3): 247–260.
10.
ChinWW (1998) The partial least squares approach for structural equation modeling. In: MarcoulidesGA (eds) Modern Methods for Business Research. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 295–336.
11.
ChoHTanKMChiuWS (2020) Will I be back? Evoking nostalgia through college students’ memorable exchange programme experiences. Tourism Review76(2): 392–410.
12.
ChoiJGTkachenkoTSilS (2011) On the destination image of Korea by Russian tourists. Tourism Management32(1): 193–194.
13.
ChowdhuryMB (2021) Internationalisation of education and its effect on economic growth and development. The World Economy45(1): 200–219.
14.
CorreiaAZinsAHSilvaF (2015) Why do tourists persist in visiting the samedestination?Tourism Economics21(1): 205–221.
15.
Cossío-SilvaFJRevilla-CamachoMÁVega-VázquezM (2019) The tourist loyalty index: a new indicator for measuring tourist destination loyalty?Journal of Innovation & Knowledge4(2): 71–77.
16.
CromptonJL (1979) An assessment of the image of Mexico as a vacation destination and the influence of geographical location upon that image. Journal of Travel Research17(4): 18–23.
17.
DavisKAKnightDB (2021) Comparing students’ study abroad experiences and outcomes across global contexts. International Journal of Intercultural Relations83: 114–127.
18.
DobniDZinkhanGM (1990) In search of brand image: a foundation analysis. Advances in Consumer Research17(1): 110–119.
19.
DuerdenMDLaylandEPetrielloM, et al. (2018) Understanding the unique nature of the adolescent study abroad experience. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education23: 18–28.
20.
DurkheimE (1912) The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. New York, NY: Free Press.
21.
EchtnerCMRitchieJRB (2003) The meaning and measurement of destination image. Journal of Tourism Studies14(1): 37–48.
22.
FakeyePCCromptonJL (1991) Image differences between prospective, first-time, and repeat visitors to the lower Rio Grande Valley. Journal of Travel Research30(2): 10–16.
23.
FornellCLarckerDF (1981) Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research18(1): 39–50.
24.
FotheringhamEMCraigPTorE (2018) International medical electives in selected African countries: a phenomenological study on host experience. International Journal of Medical Education9: 137–144.
25.
FridgenJD (1984) Environmental psychology and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research11(1): 19–39.
26.
GloverP (2011) International students: linking education and travel. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing28(2): 180–195.
27.
GoldbartJMarshallJEvansIR (2005) International students of speech and language therapy in the UK: choices about where to study and whether to return. Higher Education50: 89–109.
GuoYGuoS (2017) Internationalization of Canadian higher education: discrepancies between policies and international student experiences. Studies in Higher Education42(5): 851–868.
30.
HasanMKIsmailAIslamF (2017) Tourist risk perceptions and revisit intention: a critical review of literature. Cogent Business & Management4(1): 1412874.
31.
HasaniAMoghavvemiSHamzahA (2016) The impact of emotional solidarity on residents’ attitude and tourism development. Plos One11(6): e0157624.
32.
HuntJD (1982) Image as a factor in tourism development. Tourism Recreation Research7(1): 1–6.
JamaludinNLSamDLSandalGM, et al. (2016) The influence of perceived discrimination, orientation to mainstream culture and life satisfaction on destination loyalty intentions: the case of international students. Current Issues in Tourism21(8): 934–949.
JooDTasciADAWoosnamKM, et al. (2018) Residents’ attitude towards domestic tourists explained by contact, emotional solidarity and social distance. Tourism Management64: 245–257.
37.
KateřinaRIdaRJakubŠ, et al. (2018) Building customer loyalty in rural destinations as a pre-condition of sustainable competitiveness. Sustainability10(4): 957.
38.
KimJH (2018) The impact of memorable tourism experiences on loyalty behaviors: the mediating effects of destination image and satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research57(7): 856–870.
39.
KimJHRitchieJRBMccormickB (2012) Development of a scale to measure memorable tourism experiences. Journal of Travel Research51(1): 12–25.
40.
KimSBKwonKJ (2018) Examining the relationships of image and attitude on visit intention to Korea among Tanzanian College students: the moderating effect of familiarity. Sustainability10(2): 360.
41.
KristopherJPAndrewFH (2008) Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods40(3): 879–891.
42.
LamJMAriffinAAM (2019) Do travel images affect international students’ on-site academic value? New evidence from the Malaysia’s ‘higher edutourism’. destination. Journal of Vacation Marketing25(4): 499–514.
43.
LeeCCAllenL (1999) Understanding individuals’ attachment to selected destination: an application of place attachment. Tourism Analysis4: 173–185.
44.
LeeJKyleGScottD (2012) The mediating effect of place attachment on the relationship between festival satisfaction and loyalty to the festival hosting destination. Journal of Travel Research51(6): 754–767.
45.
LehtoXYO’LearyJTMorrisonAM (2004) The effect of prior experience on vacation behavior. Annals of Tourism Research31(4): 801–818.
46.
LeoGBrienAAstorY, et al. (2020) Attraction loyalty, destination loyalty, and motivation: agritourist perspective. Current Issues in Tourism24(9): 1244–1256.
47.
LiMCaiLALehtoXY, et al. (2010) A missing link in understanding revisit intention: the role of motivation and image. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing27(4): 335–348.
48.
LiuCH (2019) Local and international perspectives of the influence of creative experiences of Chinese traditional culture on revisit intentions. Current Issues in Tourism23(1): 17–35.
49.
McDowallSMaE (2010) An analysis of tourists’ evaluation of Bangkok’s performance, their satisfaction, and destination loyalty: comparing international versus domestic Thai tourists. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism11(4): 260–282.
50.
MessiouKBuiLTAinscowM, et al. (2020) Student diversity and student voice conceptualisations in five European countries: implications for including all students in schools. European Educational Research Journal21(2): 355–376.
MurphyK (2018) The value of the Disney college program internship and students’ loyalty intentions. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights1(1): 86–102.
OppermannM (2000) Tourism destination loyalty. Journal of Travel Research39(1): 78–84.
55.
PatwardhanVRibeiroMAPayiniV, et al. (2019) Visitors’ place attachment and destination loyalty: examining the roles of emotional solidarity and perceived safety. Journal of Travel Research59(1): 3–21.
56.
PetrickJFMoraisDDNormanWC (2001) An examination of the determinants of entertainment vacationers’ intentions to revisit. Journal of Travel Research40(1): 41–48.
57.
PodsakoffPMMackenzieSBLeeJY, et al. (2003) Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology88(5): 879–903.
58.
PrayagGRyanC (2012) Antecedents of tourists’ loyalty to Mauritius the role and influence of destination image, place attachment, personal involvement, and satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research51(3): 342–356.
59.
RagbHMahrousAAGhoneimA (2020) A proposed measurement scale for mixed-images destinations and its interrelationships with destination loyalty and travel experience. Tourism Management Perspectives35: 1–13.
60.
RibeiroMAWoosnamKMPintoP, et al. (2018) Tourists’ destination loyalty through emotional solidarity with residents: an integrative moderation mediated model. Journal of Travel Research57(3): 279–295.
61.
RitchieBW (2006) Managing Educational Tourism. New Delhi: Viva.
62.
SáCMSabzalievaE (2017) The politics of the great brain race: public policy and international student recruitment in Australia, Canada, England and the USA. Higher Education75(2): 231–253.
63.
ScarpiDMasonMRaggiottoF (2019) To Rome with love: a moderated mediation model in roman heritage consumption. Tourism Management71: 389–401.
64.
SmithWWLiXRPanB, et al. (2015) Tracking destination image across the trip experience with smartphone technology. Tourism Management48: 113–122.
65.
SnodinN (2019) Mobility experiences of international students in Thai higher education. International Journal of Educational Management33(7): 1653–1669.
66.
SoyerKOzgitHRjoubH (2020) Applying an evolutionary growth theory for sustainable economic development: the effect of international students as tourists. Sustainability12(1): 1–20.
67.
StylidisDShaniABelhassenY (2017) Testing an integrated destination image model across residents and tourists. Tourism Management58: 184–195.
68.
StylidisDWoosnamKMIvkovM (2020a) Tourists’ emotional solidarity with residents: a segmentation analysis and its links to destination image and loyalty. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management17: 100458.
69.
StylidisDWoosnamKMIvkovM, et al. (2020b) Destination loyalty explained through place attachment, destination familiarity and destination image. International Journal of Tourism Research22(5): 604–616.
70.
StylidisDWoosnamKMTasciADA (2021) The effect of resident-tourist interaction quality on destination image and loyalty. Journal of Sustainable Tourism30(6): 1219–1239.
71.
TaheriBChalmersDWilsonJ, et al. (2021) Would you really recommend it? Antecedents of word-of-mouth in medical tourism. Tourism Management83: 1–18.
72.
TasciAUsluAStylidisD, et al. (2021) Place-oriented or people-oriented concepts for destination loyalty: destination image and place attachment versus perceived distances and emotional solidarity. Journal of Travel Research61(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520982377.
73.
TasciADAGartnerWC (2007) Destination image and its functional relationships. Journal of Travel Research45(4): 413–425.
TsaiSP (2012) Place attachment and tourism marketing: investigating international tourists in Singapore. International Journal of Tourism Research14(2): 139–152.
76.
UmSChonKRoYH (2006) Antecedents of revisit intention. Annals of Tourism Research33(4): 1141–1158.
77.
UmSCromptonJL (1990) Attitude determinants in tourism destination choice. Annals of Tourism Research17(3): 432–448.
78.
UNWTO (1995) Collection of tourism expenditure statistics: A technical manual No.2. Madrid: World Tourism Organization.
79.
VanMolCCaarlsKSouto-OteroM (2020) International student mobility and labour market outcomes: an investigation of the role of level of study, type of mobility, and international prestige hierarchies. Higher Education82(6): 1145–1171.
80.
WangLFongDKCLawR, et al. (2018) Length of stay: its determinants and outcomes. Journal of Travel Research57(4): 472–482.
81.
WearingSWearingB (2001) Conceptualizing the selves of tourism. Leisure Studies20(2): 143–159.
82.
WongIALiXP (2015) Destination services and travel experience in the gaming Mecca: the moderating role of gambling as a travel purpose among Chinese tourists. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing32(1–2): 80–99.
83.
WoosnamKMAleshinloyeKD (2012) Can tourists experience emotional solidarity with residents? Testing Durkheim’s model from a new perspective. Journal of Travel Research52(4): 494–505.
84.
WoosnamKMNormanWC (2010) Measuring residents’ emotional solidarity with tourists: scale development of Durkheim's theoretical constructs. Journal of Travel Research49(3): 365–380.
85.
WoosnamKMNormanWCYingT (2009) Exploring the theoretical framework of emotional solidarity between residents and tourists. Journal of Travel Research48(2): 245–258.
86.
WuMYZhaiJWallG, et al. (2019) Understanding international students’ motivations to pursue higher education in mainland China. Educational Review73(5): 580–596.
87.
XuJFredD (2021) Hospitality and internationalization-at-home: the intercultural experiences of ‘buddies’ at a summer school in China. Language and Intercultural Communication22(4): 439–454.
88.
YuJLeeTJ (2014) Impact of tourists’ intercultural interactions. Journal of Travel Research53(2): 225–238.
89.
ZhangHFuXCaiLA, et al. (2014) Destination image and tourist loyalty: a meta-analysis. Tourism Management40: 213–223.
90.
ZhangHWuYBuhalisD (2017) A model of perceived image, memorable tourism experiences and revisit intention. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management8: 326–336.
91.
ZhangXTangJ (2021) A study of emotional solidarity in the homestay industry between hosts and tourists in the post-pandemic era. Sustainability13(13): 7458.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
