Distinctive roles of tourist eudaimonic and hedonic experiences on satisfaction and place attachment: Combined use of SEM and necessary condition analysis

Abstract

This study examined two different aspects of tourist eudaimonic and hedonic experiences, and compared how they affect satisfaction and place attachment. Four tourist eudaimonic experience constructs—“meaning, self-connectedness, accomplishment, and personal expressiveness”— and four hedonic constructs—“positive affect, negative affect, carefreeness, and hedonic enjoyment”—were selected. By utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA), the study suggests that providing hedonic experience is likely to enhance the satisfaction level and that regardless of the presence of other enhancers, an adequate level of hedonic experience is necessary. For achieving high place attachment, tourist eudaimonic experience is one of the (substitutable) determinants, although an adequate level of hedonic experience must also be provided. Accordingly, this study highlights the differences between two tourist happiness experiences and acknowledges whether destinations should prioritize either of them or not abandon both.