Effects of Perceived Placeness on Tourists’ Authenticity Experience Via the Mediating Role of Flow Experience

Based on the case of Gaoshanliushui in China, our research empirically examines the mediating effect of tourists’ flow experience on the relationship between perceived placeness and satisfaction as well as their perceived authenticity from the perspective of existential authenticity in the ethnic tourism context. Moreover, we present a moderated mediation model and postulate the role that tourists’ cultural intelligence plays in improving satisfaction and perceived authenticity. We review the way it links perceived placeness to outcomes through the flow experience. The theoretical model and hypotheses were empirically tested using 509 questionnaires collected in July 2019. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.