Narratives, emotions and return: a proposed SOR model of film tourism

Abstract

This study examines the psychological mechanisms that link perceived authenticity with tourist satisfaction and loyalty in the context of film tourism. Based on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model, this study proposes a mediation model according to which constructivist and existential authenticity act as stimuli, attachment to the destination acts as an organism, and satisfaction and loyalty act as responses. An online survey of a valid sample of 590 people who were interested in cinema was conducted. The items included in this survey were adapted from previous studies and validated on the basis of a process involving a pretest, translation and statistical analysis. The data were analysed via the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS–SEM) approach, which allowed us to verify both direct and indirect effects. The results reveal that existential authenticity does not have direct effects on satisfaction or loyalty; however, it does have significant indirect effects that are completely mediated by attachment to the destination. On the other hand, constructivist authenticity has significant direct effects on both variables in addition to partial mediating effects. This finding suggests that emotional attachment to the destination is key to the transformation of subjective authenticity into positive behaviour.