Analysis of antecedents and consequences of memorable tourist experiences (MTEs): A Spanish case study

Competition in the tourism industry has intensified over the years and the process of searching for information when choosing a tourist destination has become more important. The most valuable information we have is what we remember: the memorable tourist experience (MTE). This study explores this concept by proposing a model that includes antecedents, such as destination image and tourist engagement, as well as consequences of the tourist experience, such as satisfaction, revisit intention and recommendation intention for the tourist destination. For this analysis, a self-administered online survey was conducted with clients of a Spanish hotel chain, resulting in a sample of 328 valid returned questionnaires. To carry out the analysis a structural equation model was developed. The results underline the importance of memory in the creation of memorable tourist experiences. Academic and management implications are proposed to complete the paper.