Sightseeing tourists' motivation and satisfaction

Abstract This field study explored motivation and satisfaction dimensions of sightseeing tourists. For this purpose, 225 were tested for their motives before the day's tour and for their satisfactions after it. The data were collected on 10 different tour buses. The results indicated a considerable similarity between motivation and satisfaction dimensions, with knowledge seeking, social interaction, and escape emerging as important motive and satisfaction factors. This similarity led to a very high overall satisfaction with the tour. A group of tourists who came together by chance scored significantly higher on the knowledge-seeking motive and on five satisfaction dimensions than did the regular tour group and the convention group.