The interest in tourism destination loyalty has increased in recent times. Although the recent literature has shown that a tourist’s loyalty to a destination is the direct result of quality service and the type of experiences, the correlation between service quality and customer loyalty has yet to be thoroughly researched within the tourist-destination context. Since these destinations are constantly changing, it requires further analysis and research. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between service quality performance and destination loyalty, as well as the mediation impact of destination image in Saudi Arabia for local tourist destination perspectives in Albaha region, while considering the attitudes towards service quality within three, four- and five-star hotels. The partial least square to structural equation modelling was used (PLS-SEM) to examine 298 local tourists from Saudi Arabia who took part in a survey. The results show a positive relationship between service quality performance and destination image, as well as a positive relationship between service quality performance and loyalty. The results also confirm that destination image mediated the relationship between service quality performance and destination loyalty. The results of this study contribute to knowledge by informing service managers in tourism sector about the perspectives of local tourists towards destination image and loyalty.

The main objective of this research paper is to examine the mediating roles of place attachment and tourist satisfaction on destination attractiveness and loyalty relationship using the phantom approach among foreign tourists visiting Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Tourists from three countries listed in the top 20 international markets visiting Malaysia were chosen as the target population. The survey was conducted at the departure hall of Langkawi International Airport using a simple random sampling method. A total of 365 useful ques-tionnaires were returned and analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings of the study have empirically demonstrated that destination attractiveness had no significant direct influence on destination loyalty. However, the study discovered that tourist satisfaction and place attachment fully mediated the relationship between destination attractiveness and destination loyalty. Destination attractiveness has an indirect effect on destination loyalty. The study also illustrated that the tourist satisfaction factor had a stronger mediator effect than place attachment factor in the destination loyalty relationship model. The study suggested several insightful recommendations to the destination management office in maximizing tourist’s experience with cultural attractiveness and adequate infrastructure, thereby, enhancing the visitation of international tourists to Langkawi Island.

The recent paradigm shift from recruitment of international students to retention of students encouraged radical changes on the consumption of educational services from university serving the students for creation of mutually beneficial relationship between the students and the university. The impact of globalization hit the economy in two paradoxes; first, consumers have more choices but less satisfaction; second, service providers have more strategic options, which yield less value. Against this background, this study proposed and validated destination loyalty model to arrest the increasing students’ attrition at study location. The declining state funding of higher education challenged the management of education sector to design sustainable competitive advantage strategy not only to attract but also to retain students at their study destination. A total of 498 data was solicited from international students at Malaysian public universities, partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the reliability and validity of items and constructs. The results show that relationship marketing dynamism of service quality, students’ satisfaction, perceive image, perceived value and personal reasons were stable for international student loyalty to study destination. A new model called 2S2P was developed for emerging education destinations. Theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future studies were documented in the paper.