International Journal of Tourism Cities
Purpose: This study examines how key destination attributes influence tourist satisfaction and how satisfaction, in turn, affects revisit intention and word-of-mouth in urban river tourism. It also tests the mediating role of satisfaction and the moderating role of tourist nationality. Design/methodology/approach: A sequential mixed-methods design combined focus-group refinement of measures and a structured on-site survey of 479 tourists in Can Tho, Vietnam. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with bootstrapping and multi-group analysis was used.
Findings: Community involvement, sustainability, amenities, and accessibility significantly enhanced satisfaction, while activities and entertainment unexpectedly reduced it. Satisfaction functioned as a mediator between destination attributes and behavioral intentions. Nationality moderated the effects of satisfaction on revisit intention and word of mouth, with stronger impacts observed among domestic tourists. Originality/value: By integrating the theory of planned behavior, expectancy disconfirmation theory and the experience economy with complementary perspectives such as place attachment, experiential value, and emotional solidarity, this study refines theoretical understanding of satisfaction and loyalty in river-based urban tourism. It shows that social and environmental dimensions dominate over price in shaping behavioral intentions.
Practical implications: Managers should prioritise community-led initiatives, visible sustainability measures and context-sensitive entertainment design; pairing infrastructure upgrades with safeguards for local livelihoods is essential.
Key words: Sustainable tourism; cultural segmentation; destination management; community participation.
In an era of heightened environmental awareness and sustainable development, river tourism increasingly combines ecological stewardship, cultural heritage and local livelihoods (Munir et al., 2025; Sihombing et al., 2024). Tourist satisfaction is a central predictor of loyalty outcomes (revisit intention, WOM) and is shaped by multiple destination attributes — e.g., accessibility, amenities, activities, community participation and sustainability (Afshardoost & Eshaghi, 2020; Torabi et al., 2023).
Tourist satisfaction, a critical measure of experience quality, is widely recognized as a key determinant of post visit behavior such as revisit intention and word of mouth. Satisfaction is influenced by a wide array of destination attributes, including environmental quality, service infrastructure, accessibility, cultural authenticity, and community involvement (Afshardoost & Eshaghi, 2020; Torabi et al., 2023). In recent years, destination sustainability—including perceived environmental responsibility and social equity—has emerged as an essential factor in shaping positive tourist experiences (Carvalho et al., 2025; Liu et al., 2023). Furthermore, experience co creation through community engagement and tourist participation has become central to enhancing satisfaction and loyalty (Lan et al., 2021).
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