Relationships between the 'Big-5' personality traits with memorable tourism experiences and revisit intentions: The effects of mediation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to ascertain the effects of ‘Big-5’ personality traits (PT) on memorable tourism experience (MTE), and revisit intentions (RI). The study uses a convenience sample of 239 tourists returning home from Larnaca international airport in Cyprus. The data analysis is based on confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and mediation analysis of MTE dimensions between PT and RI. The findings reveal that most relationships between the five dimensions of PT and the seven dimensions of MTE are not statistically significant except for the relationships of neuroticism to novelty, and openness to refreshment. All the dimensions of MTE are positively and significantly related to RI, and the sub-constructs of PT are not statistically significant on RI. Mediation analysis reveals that there is only a partial mediation for all seven antecedents of MTE between agreeableness and RI. Implications: Since the validity of personality traits as predictors of MTE and RI is rather low, new scales for MTE and PT should be used in future attempts instead of the scales of the seven dimensions of MTE and the ‘Big-5’ personality traits involved in this study. Researchers should further extend the dimensions of MTE and PT.