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Volume – III, Issue - XI (No embe ) 2025
F equency: Mon hly
THE INFLUENCERS OF TOURIST ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY-BASED
ECOTOURISM IN DAVAO DE ORO, PHILIPPINES
Jacques Eleaze B. Be e1*, Emma V. Saga ino, DBM2
1, 2 Uni e si y o he Immacula e Concep ion, Da ao Ci y, Philippines
| Recei ed: 22.11.2025 | Accep ed: 25.11.2025 | Published: 26.11.2025
*Co esponding au ho : Jacques Eleaze B. Be e
Uni e si y o he Immacula e Concep ion, Da ao Ci y, Philippines
Abs ac
Tou is engagemen is a complex concep o c ea ing genuine a el expe iences and p omo ing sus ainable ou ism g ow h. This
s udy in es iga es he in luence o des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion image on ou is engagemen in
communi y-based eco ou ism (CBET) in Da ao de O o, Philippines. Exis ing esea ch highligh s he impo an oles o hese
a iables in shaping ou is beha io ; howe e , he combined e ec s wi hin CBET a e less well s udied. Guided by he Cus ome
Engagemen Fundamen al P oposi ion and S imulus-O ganism-Response Pa adigm, he s udy hypo hesizes ha he h ee
independen a iables in luence ou is engagemen . A desc ip i e-co ela ional esea ch design was employed, u ilizing a andom
sampling echnique o su ey 377 local ou is s ac oss i e iden i ied Communi y-Based Eco ou ism (CBET) a ac ions. Da a
we e analyzed using mean sco es, Pea son co ela ion, and mul iple eg ession. The s udy e ealed a high le el o ou is
engagemen , des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion image in Da ao de O o’s communi y-based
eco ou ism si es. While des ina ion quali y and des ina ion image in luence ou is engagemen , eco ou ism se ice quali y showed
he mos in luence. These indings b ing ou he need o collabo a i e e o s among si e ope a o s, local communi ies, and
go e nmen agencies o enhance cul u al, culina y, and eco-based expe iences o s eng hen au hen ic ou is connec ions and
ensu e he long- e m sus ainabili y and compe i i eness o local eco ou ism. This s udy p oposes empi ical e idence o ou ism
ma ke ing and business managemen and suppo s sus ainable communi y ou ism de elopmen in he p o ince o Da ao de O o.
Keywo ds:
Business Managemen , Communi y-Based Eco ou ism, Des ina ion Quali y, Des ina ion Image, Eco ou ism Se ice
Quali y, Tou is Engagemen , Da ao de O o, Philippines
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Backg ound o he S udy
The engagemen o ou is s is a majo ac o in he loyal y o a
des ina ion and he g ow h o ou ism, bu is ne e heless e y
challenging o cope wi h. O e - ou ism is one o he p oblems
expe ienced by Thailand, G eece, and Seychelles, whe e i no only
impac s nega i ely on he en i onmen , he local communi y, and
he isi o s' expe ience bu also pu s he ecosys em a s ake
(B ajcich, 2024; Sabio, 2024). This also led o habi a loss and
wildli e con lic s (Maximo a, 2019). Coun ies such as
Mon eneg o and Tu key ha e he issue o inc eased p ices in he
a eas o leisu e and ec ea ion, ho els, and es au an s due o
ou ism (Tkalec & Vizek, 2016). Mo eo e , commodi ica ion akes
place in E hiopia, whe e cul u al e en s a e ans o med in o
ou is - iendly happenings, losing hei o iginal meaning
(Alimineh e al., 2022). In Kuala Lumpu , he in lux o ou is s
ha ms cul u al iden i y, and bo h he ou is s and he local people
ha e o adjus o new expec a ions (Anua e al., 2021). A
con inuous low o s a and he lack o oppo uni ies o
p o essional de elopmen g ea ly a ec he quali y and
compe i i eness o he ou ism sec o in he Philippines (Busalla,
2025). All hese p oblems place he need o he e-es ablishmen
o ou is engagemen ha can lead o au hen ic expe iences
(Pa illa, 2023).
The in e ac ion wi h ou is s has signi ican social alue, p o iding
subs an ial bene i s o he policy and business sec o s. The
knowledge o ou is engagemen is a key ac o o local and
na ional policy make s and business sec o s as i e lec s he public
ecogni ion o en i onmen al bene i s and he si ua ion o
sus ainabili y s a egies, ma ke -o ien ed imp o emen s, and new
p ojec de elopmen based on eedback (Ezeh & Dube, 2024;
Con i e al., 2023). Tou is s' engagemen b ings a sense o p ide in
he local communi y and po ays a posi i e image o he a ea,
a ac ing locals o pa icipa e in ou ism ac i i ies (Jackson, 2025).
In addi ion, i c ea es a s ong bond wi h he place, allowing
in e ac ion be ween cul u es and unde s anding o de elop be ween
he locals and he ou is s, hus leading o social cohesion and e en
mi iga ing he chances o con lic s (Woosnam e al., 2015). Las ly,
he in es iga ion o ou is engagemen no only p o ides he
p ac i ione s o he ield bu he esea che s as well wi h he
knowledge ha is necessa y o he unde s anding o he
ela ionships in ou ism ma ke ing managemen , hus con ibu ing
o he es ablishmen o he scien i ic knowledge base in his a ea
(Chou e al., 2024).
Va ious s udies ha e been conduc ed on he ela ionship be ween
des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, des ina ion image,
and ou is engagemen . Acco ding o Pu i e al. (2022), ou is
engagemen is d i en by des ina ion quali y and can imp o e hei
loyal y a e examining he ou is s in Sou h Suma a, Indonesia,
on he e ec o des ina ion quali y on ou is engagemen . In hei
s udy, Paul and Roy (2023) explo ed he in luence o he eco-
se ice model on ou is engagemen in eco ou ism des ina ions.
Thei esea ch demons a es ha highe eco-se ice quali y
signi ican ly enhances ou is sa is ac ion, which e en ually os e s
engagemen among ou is s. Moline -Tena (2023) es ablished a
causal ela ionship be ween des ina ion image and ou is
engagemen . He ound ha des ina ion images a e he main
an eceden o ou is engagemen and sugges ed ha des ina ion
managemen should in es in ca e, imp o emen , and p omo ion o
ou ism esou ces.
The esea che has gone h ough a ious published esea ch s udies
and li e a u e on he dynamics o des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism
se ice quali y, des ina ion image, and ou is engagemen .
Al hough conside able esea ch has ocused on he indi idual
componen s o hese a iables, he e is a no iceable lack o s udies
ha comp ehensi ely explo e hei in e ac ion and combined
e ec s on ou is engagemen , pa icula ly in he con ex o
communi y-based eco ou ism (CBET) in he p o ince o Da ao de
O o. Fo ins ance, esea ch has explo ed social media’s in luence
on ou is in Da ao de O o (Pa aganao e al., 2020), des ina ion
a ac i eness a ec ing ou is in en ion in eco ou ism si es in
Da ao Ci y (Jimenez e al., 2023), Da ao Ci y ou is p e e ences
du ing he pandemic (Alca az e al., 2023), and he impac o
eco ou ism pe o mance in Da ao Ci y (Oli a e al., 2023). These
esea ch s udies, o he mos pa , ocus ei he on Da ao Ci y
alone o on he b oade issue o ou ism. Howe e , hey o e look
he unique communi y-based eco ou ism (CBET) con ex ,
especially in Da ao de O o p o ince. Hence, his s udy will
examine how des ina ion quali y, eco-se ice quali y, and
des ina ion image in luence ou is engagemen in communi y-
based eco ou ism in Da ao de O o. This s udy aims o iden i y key
ac o s ha will aid in enhancing sus ainable ou ism p ac ices
while es ablishing connec ions be ween ou is s and local
communi ies.
1.2 S a emen o he P oblem
This s udy aimed o de e mine he in luence o des ina ion quali y,
eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion image on ou is
engagemen in communi y-based eco ou ism (CBET) in Da ao de
O o. Speci ically, i sough o answe he ollowing:
1. Wha is he le el o local ou is engagemen as a ed by
he esponden s in e ms o en husiasm, a en ion,
abso p ion, in e ac ion, and iden i ica ion?
2. Wha is he le el o des ina ion quali y o eco ou ism
si es as a ed by he esponden s in e ms o ecosys em
heal h, his o ical and cul u al a ac ions, ameni ies,
accommoda ion, ood, and sa e y and secu i y?
3. Wha is he s a us o eco ou ism se ice quali y o
eco ou ism si es as a ed by he esponden s in e ms o
eliabili y and esponsi eness, assu ance and empa hy,
angibles, eco-ac i i ies, eco-lea nings, and eco- iendly
p ac ices?
4. Wha is he s a us o he des ina ion image o eco ou ism
si es as a ed by he esponden s in e ms o
in as uc u e, a ac ion, alue o money, and
enjoymen ?
5. Is he e a signi ican ela ionship be ween des ina ion
quali y and ou is engagemen , eco ou ism se ice
quali y and ou is engagemen , and des ina ion image
and ou is engagemen ?
6. Which o he des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice
quali y, and des ina ion image signi ican ly in luences
he engagemen o he local ou is s o Da ao de O o?
1.3 Theo e ical F amewo k
This s udy is g ounded in he in eg a ion o he Cus ome
Engagemen Fundamen al P oposi ion and he S imulus–
O ganism–Response (S–O–R) Pa adigm o explain he di ec
in luence o key des ina ion ac o s on ou is engagemen in he
con ex o eco ou ism.
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The Cus ome Engagemen Fundamen al P oposi ion o B odie e
al. (2011) p o ides he s uc u al and dimensional ounda ion o he
engagemen cons uc , de ining i as a mul idimensional
psychological s a e consis ing o cogni i e, emo ional, and
beha io al dimensions. Following Rasoolimanesh e al. (2019),
ou is engagemen is ela able o B odie e al.’s p oposi ion
speci ying i s i e dimensions: en husiasm, a en ion, abso p ion,
in e ac ion, and iden i ica ion, ep esen ing he ull spec um ha a
ou is may psychologically expe ience du ing hei in e ac ion
wi h an eco ou ism si e.
Acco ding o he S–O–R T Pa adigm (Meh abian & Russell,
1974), he ex e nal en i onmen (s imuli) in luences indi iduals’
in e nal psychological s a es (o ganism), which subsequen ly
de e mine hei esponses (Hoch ei e e al., 2023). In his s udy,
des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion
image se e as he s imuli (S) ha e oke an in e nal o ganismic
esponse (O), concep ualized as ou is engagemen . Al hough he
S–O–R pa adigm o en ex ends o beha io al esponses, his s udy
limi s i s scope o he s imulus–o ganism link, ocusing on how
en i onmen al a ibu es di ec ly s imula e engagemen .
1.4 Concep ual F amewo k
Re lec ed in Figu e 1 is he in e play be ween independen
a iables – des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and
des ina ion image – and he dependen a iable – ou is
engagemen . This s udy aims o de e mine he in luence o
des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion
image on he local ou is s' engagemen .
Tou is engagemen is he dependen a iable o his s udy and is
de ined as a psychological condi ion ha eme ges om in e ac i e
and co-c ea i e expe iences wi h a cen al agen o objec , such as
a ac ions, ac i i ies, o se ices, wi hin key a el des ina ions
(Pa illa, 2023). The independen a iable des ina ion quali y is
de ined as he combina ion o ea u es ha cons i u e he ou ism
p oduc a he des ina ion le el, i can be a ac ions, acili ies, and
o he se ices (Raja a nam e al., 2015). I is also de ined as he
o e all isi o ’s objec i e pe cep ion o he quali y o expe ience
and he e alua ion o a des ina ion (Cong, 2016). Eco ou ism-
se ice quali y, on he o he hand, is he quali y o se ice p o ided
by an eco ou ism des ina ion o a measu e o how well a
des ina ion mee s he expec a ions o i s isi o s (Thao e al.,
2019). Finally, des ina ion image e e s o he o e all pe cep ion
o se o imp essions ha isi o s hold abou a des ina ion (Hun ,
1975, as ci ed in Byon & Zhang, 2010).
Figu e 1: The Concep ual F amewo k
IV DV
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Resea ch Design
This s udy employed a quan i a i e me hod, speci ically a
desc ip i e-co ela ion app oach, o s a is ically explo e he
ela ionship be ween des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice
quali y, des ina ion image, and ou is engagemen . This app oach
i s his s udy well because i measu es he le el, s a us, and
ela ionships o ou is engagemen , des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism
se ice quali y, and des ina ion image. The s udy uses a su ey
ins umen o da a collec ion. Then, he esul s a e analyzed using
he app op ia e s a is ical ools.
2.2 Resea ch Locale
The s udy was conduc ed in he communi y-based eco ou ism
(CBET) a ac ions in he p o ince o Da ao de O o. The p o ince
is blessed wi h s unning na u al landscapes, a di e se ecosys em,
and a ich cul u al he i age. Da ao de O o has been aising
awa eness among esiden s abou he impo ance o en i onmen al
conse a ion and ac i ely in ol ing he people in p o ec ing he
na u al beau y o he p o ince (Ho izano, 2022). To be mo e
speci ic, only hose iden i ied by he p o incial ou ism o ice o
Da ao de O o ha a e ca ego ized as op-pe o ming communi y-
based eco ou ism des ina ions we e included in his s udy, namely:
Lake Leona d in he municipali y o Maco, Sal osa Falls in he
municipali y o Pan ukan, Tagbibin a and Pyali an Falls in he
municipali y o Ma agusan, and Awao Falls in he municipali y o
Monkayo (K. V. Magalona, pe sonal communica ion, Ap il 3,
2025).
2.3 Resea ch Responden s
F om he yea 2020 o 2024, Da ao de O o ecei ed o e 4 million
ou is s isi ing he p o ince’s highland, coas al, and wellness
loops (Da ao de O o Tou ism O ice, 2025), a e aging a leas
800,000 ou is s a yea . In 2022, 25% o ou is s, o almos 20,000,
op ed o isi communi y-based eco ou ism si es (Palic e, 2022).
The esponden s in his s udy comp ised 377 local ou is s who
isi ed eco ou is si es in Da ao de O o, de e mined using
Raoso 's online sample size calcula o based on he es ima ed
a e age annual numbe o ou is s.
This s udy u ilized a andom sampling echnique whe ein each
ou is wi h i s hand expe ience om he iden i ied i e
communi y-based eco ou ism a ac ions will ha e an equal chance
o being chosen, since he scope o his s udy is p o ince-wide. To
be included in his s udy, chosen esponden s mus be a leas 18
yea s old who ha e isi ed a leas once o ha e di ec and pe sonal
expe ience wi h he eco ou ism si e, and be capable o
unde s anding and esponding o ques ions abou hei eco ou ism
expe iences. Ha ing an in o med pe spec i e, he esea che s
ensu ed ha he esponden s could di e en ia e eco ou ism om
o he ypes o ou ism. Those indi iduals who do no ha e any
eco ou ism expe ience, adolescen s o child en, o hose who
canno eliably ecall o a icula e hei eco ou ism expe iences, a e
no conside ed o ake pa in his s udy.
2.4 Resea ch Ins umen
The s udy u ilized ou adap ed su ey ques ionnai es, and i
con ains ou pa s. Fo Pa I, ou is engagemen is om
Rasoolimanesh e al. (2019) wi h a 5-poin Like scale and a
C onbach’s alpha anging om 0.86 o 0.92. While Pa II is o
he des ina ion quali y, i is an adap ed ques ionnai e om Huong
and G ande (2022). The indica o s o his s udy ha e a C onbach’s
alpha anging om 0.70 o .95. Mo eo e , Pa III o he
ins umen is adap ed om Ban and Gu uge (2021). In hei s udy,
C onbach’s Alpha anges om 0.78 o 0.89. A 5-poin Like Scale
Des ina ion Quali y
Eco-se ice Quali y
Des ina ion Image
Tou is
Engagemen
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was used in his s udy, in which 5 - S ongly Ag ee and 1 –
S ongly Disag ee a all.
2.5 S a is ical Tools
To ensu e a ho ough in e p e a ion and analysis o he collec ed
da a, he esea che employed se e al s a is ical ools, including he
mean, which was used o de e mine he le el o ou is
engagemen , he le el o des ina ion quali y, he s a us o
eco ou ism se ice quali y, and he s a us o des ina ion image in
Da ao de O o eco ou ism si es; he s anda d de ia ion, which
assessed he consis ency and dispe sion o esponses ac oss hese
a iables; he Pea son co ela ion coe icien , which iden i ied he
ela ionships be ween des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice
quali y, and des ina ion image owa d ou is engagemen ; and
mul iple eg ession analysis, which examined he ex en o which
hese h ee independen a iables signi ican ly in luenced he
ou is engagemen o local isi o s in he p o ince o Da ao de
O o.
2.6 E hical Conside a ions
This s udy s ic ly ollowed e hical esea ch s anda ds by secu ing
app o al om he UIC Resea ch E hics Commi ee unde P o ocol
Code GS-ER-08-25-0348, ensu ing compliance wi h key p inciples
such as social alue, in o med consen , p o ec ion o ulne able
pa icipan s, isk–bene i assessmen , p i acy and con iden iali y,
jus ice, anspa ency, esea che compe ence, adequacy o
acili ies, and communi y in ol emen .
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The ollowing a e he esul s o he s udy. P esen ed in Table 1 is
he le el o local ou is engagemen a eco ou ism si es in Da ao
de O o ac oss i e dimensions: en husiasm, a en ion, abso p ion,
in e ac ion, and iden i ica ion. I can be obse ed ha he o e all
mean o ou is engagemen is 3.92, which is desc ibed as high.
This esul gene ally conno es ha he engagemen o he local
ou is s owa ds he eco ou ism si es is mani es ed.
This inding suppo s Ra he e al. (2019), who concluded ha co-
c ea ion expe iences inc ease he engagemen o ou is s, p o ided
ha he place is eal and un. In addi ion, his also backs he
esea ch o Rasoolimanesh e al. (2019) ha ou is s who a e
highly engaged a e he ones who c ea e sa is ac ion and loyal y.
Table 1.
Le el o Local Tou is Engagemen
Indica o s
Mean
SD
Desc ip ion
En husiasm
4.02
.59
High
A en ion
4.03
.76
High
Abso p ion
3.85
.60
High
In e ac ion
3.92
.60
High
Iden i ica ion
3.79
.55
High
O e all Mean
3.92
.46
High
The da a in Table 2 e e o he le el o he des ina ion quali y o
he eco ou ism si es in Da ao de O o in e ms o ecosys em heal h,
his o ical and cul u al a ac ions, ameni ies, accommoda ion, ood,
and sa e y and secu i y. The le el o he des ina ion quali y is high,
as can be obse ed by an o e all mean o 3.46. This esul signi ies
ha he des ina ion quali y o he eco ou ism si es in Da ao de O o
is sa is ac o y.
This inding ag ees wi h Syahbudiman e al. (2024), who claim ha
a high des ina ion quali y will a ac ou is s o e u n o en,
enhance he epu a ion, and c ea e un o ge able expe iences.
Addi ionally, his conclusion is suppo ed by Campos e al. (2015),
who highligh ha one o he key ac o s indica ing des ina ion
quali y is he memo able expe iences gained h ough engaging
wi h local cul u e, pa icipa ing in meaning ul ac i i ies, and
gaining new insigh s.
Table 2.
Le el o Des ina ion Quali y
Indica o s
Mean
SD
Desc ip ion
Ecosys em Heal h
4.20
.59
Ve y High
His o ical and Cul u al
A ac ions
3.04
.70
Mode a e
Ameni ies
3.27
.54
Mode a e
Accommoda ion
3.65
.65
High
Food
2.73
.69
Mode a e
Sa e y and Secu i y
3.83
.59
High
O e all Mean
3.46
.41
High
Table 3 is he desc ip i e esul on he s a us o eco ou ism se ice
quali y o he eco ou ism si es in Da ao de O o. This is de e mined
by eliabili y and esponsi eness, assu ance and empa hy,
angibles, eco-ac i i ies, eco-lea ning, and eco- iendly p ac ices. I
can be gleaned ha he o e all mean sco e o he eco ou ism
se ice quali y is 3.68, which is desc ibed as high.
This esul con eys ha he eco ou ism se ice quali ies o he
p o ince’s eco ou ism si es a e sa is ac o y. This si ua ion concu s
wi h Sadiq e al. (2022), who asse ha op-no ch se ice ills he
a i ude-beha io gap in ou ism. I also suppo s Tjip ono and
Diana’s (2015) asse ion ha accu a ely deli e ed se ice quali y is
essen ial o mee cus ome expec a ions and ensu e
compe i i eness. Mo eo e , he esul co obo a es Huda and
Se yowa dhani’s (2023) indings ha in eg a ing quali y
eco ou ism se ices posi i ely in luences ou is engagemen and
in en ions o e isi .
Table 3.
S a us o Eco ou ism Se ice Quali y
Indica o s
Mean
SD
Desc ip ion
Reliabili y and Responsi eness
3.91
.52
High
Assu ance and Empa hy
4.06
.54
High
Tangibles
3.27
.58
High
Eco-Ac i i ies
2.97
.65
Mode a e
Eco-lea ning
3.83
.59
Mode a e
Eco- iendly P ac ices
4.05
.67
High
O e all Mean
3.68
.39
High
Depic ed in Table 4 a e he a ings o he esponden s on he s a us
o he des ina ion image o Da ao de O o’s eco ou ism si es in
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e ms o in as uc u e, a ac ion, alue o money, and enjoymen .
I can be collec ed ha he o e all mean a ing is 3.84, which is
desc ibed as high. The esul shows ha he ou is s' pe cep ions o
he eco ou ism si es we e a o able.
These esul s a e in line wi h he wo k o Ku lu and Ayyidiz
(2021), who s a e ha he des ina ion image is a signi ican ac o
in he ou is s' eeling o meaning ulness, unde s anding, and
in ol emen . Mo eo e , he esul s a e consis en wi h Sa ya un e
al. (2024), who poin ou ha a posi i e des ina ion image is a
ac o in making ou ism expe iences mo e memo able, isi o
engagemen , and sel -cong ui y.
Table 4.
S a us o Des ina ion Image
Indica o s
Mean
SD
Desc ip ion
In as uc u e
3.69
.55
High
A ac ion
3.49
.63
High
Value o Money
4.03
.57
High
Enjoymen
4.17
.58
High
O e all Mean
3.84
.45
High
The esul o he co ela ion o a iables is shown in Table 5. The
da a p esen s he signi ican ela ionship be ween des ina ion
quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion image owa d
ou is engagemen . I means ha when each o hese ac o s
s eng hens, ou is engagemen is also heigh ened.
Table 5.
Co ela ion Be ween Va iables
Va iables Pai ed wi h
Local Tou is Engagemen
p
Rema ks
Des ina ion Quali y
.417**
.000
Signi ican
Eco ou ism Se ice Quali y
.528**
.000
Signi ican
Des ina ion Image
.357**
.000
Signi ican
**Co ela ion Signi ican a he 0.01 le el
The signi ican co ela ion esul s e ealed ha des ina ion quali y
( =.417, p=.000) has a s a is ically signi ican and mode a ely
posi i e ela ionship wi h ou is engagemen , indica ing ha be e
des ina ion quali y enhances engagemen . This is suppo ed by he
indings o Pu i e al. (2022), who s a ed ha he quali y o he
des ina ion was he main pull ac o o ou is s and by Zhou e al.
(2023), who s a ed ha he cha ac e is ics and mood o he
des ina ion we e engagemen - acili a ing ac o s. Simila ly,
eco ou ism se ice quali y ( =.528, p=.000) showed a signi ican ,
mode a e posi i e co ela ion wi h ou is engagemen , sugges ing
ha highe eco ou ism se ice quali y inc eases engagemen . This
is in line wi h Paul and Roy (2023), who men ioned ha be e
se ice quali y boos s engagemen , and Zamee e al. (2018)
men ioned ha se ice quali y is one o he main ac o s
in luencing ou is engagemen . Finally, des ina ion image ( =.357,
p=.000) also exhibi ed a signi ican mode a e posi i e ela ionship
wi h ou is engagemen , implying ha a a o able des ina ion
image p omo es engagemen . This suppo s he esea ch o
Moline -Tena (2023), who conside ed des ina ion image as a majo
an eceden o engagemen , and Dando iya and Agga wal (2023),
who no ed ha a place’s image is a c i ical ac o in enhancing he
a achmen o ou is s o a des ina ion.
As p esen ed in Table 6, i is clea ha all he independen
a iables signi ican ly in luence local ou is engagemen (p<.05).
The be a coe icien s mean ha he espec i e uni inc eases in
des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion
image will esul in he espec i e inc eases o local ou is
engagemen by .115, .389, and .156, espec i ely. Rega ding he
eg ession model, he R2 o .303 indica es ha he combined
in luence o des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and
des ina ion image accoun s o 30.3 pe cen o he a ia ion in local
ou is engagemen . Thus, o he ac o s no in es iga ed in his
esea ch a e esponsible o he emaining 69.7 pe cen o he
a ia ion in local ou is engagemen .
Table 6.
Reg ession Analysis
Independen Va iable
β
p
Rema ks
Des ina ion Quali y
.115
2.030
.043
Signi ican
Eco ou ism Se ice Quali y
.389
6.608
.000
Signi ican
Des ina ion Image
.156
3.264
.001
Signi ican
2 = .303
F= 55.247
p =.000
The indings o his s udy suppo he Cus ome Engagemen
Fundamen al P oposi ion by B odie e al. (2011), which s a es ha
engagemen is inhe en ly a mul idimensional psychological s a e.
In his s udy, he i e dimensions o ou is engagemen
demons a ed ha engagemen is mul idimensional in na u e, and
hese dimensions con ibu e o he connec ion be ween ou is s and
eco ou ism a ibu es. The indings also a i m he S imulus-
O ganism-Response (SOR) Pa adigm o Meh abian and Russell
(1974), which explains ha an indi idual’s in e nal psychological
s a e is in luenced by he ex e nal en i onmen . He e, des ina ion
quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and des ina ion image ac as
s imuli in luencing ou is s’ in e nal s a es, leading o engagemen
as a beha io al esponse.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The indings o he s udy demons a e ha local ou is engagemen
wi hin he p o ince’s eco ou ism si es is consis en ly high,
mani es ing s ong en husiasm, imme sion, and connec ion among
isi o s. This high engagemen co esponds wi h sa is ac o y
assessmen s o des ina ion quali y, eco ou ism se ice quali y, and
a o able obse a ions on des ina ion image, all o which me
ou is expec a ions. Responden s pe cei ed he si es as well-
main ained, cul u ally ich, se ice-o ien ed, and enjoyable,
sugges ing ha hese eco ou ism des ina ions a e pe o ming a a
sa is ac o y o s ong le el in deli e ing meaning ul and
memo able expe iences.
The ela ionships among des ina ion quali y, se ice quali y,
des ina ion image, and ou is engagemen we e ound o be
signi ican ly mode a e, indica ing ha imp o emen s in any o
hese a eas can yield meaning ul inc eases in isi o in ol emen .
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17721051
65
Among he h ee p edic o s, eco ou ism se ice quali y eme ged as
he s onges in luence on engagemen , s essing he impo an ole
o eliable se ice, guided expe iences, en i onmen al lea ning,
and posi i e s a in e ac ions in de eloping us and emo ional
connec ion. These esul s suppo bo h he Cus ome Engagemen
Theo y and he S–O–R Pa adigm, con i ming ha des ina ion
a ibu es unc ion as ex e nal s imuli shaping ou is s’ in e nal
s a es, which subsequen ly con ibu e o engagemen .
Based on hese esul s, se e al ac ionable ecommenda ions a e
p oposed o s eng hen engagemen and o e all eco ou ism
pe o mance. Communi y leade s and si e ope a o s a e encou aged
o design communi y-hos ed eco-expe iences, such as cul u al
c a s, culina y demons a ions, and guided na u e walks, o
cul i a e deepe emo ional and cul u al connec ions. Enhancing
cul u al p og ams, p omo ing local cuisine, s anda dizing s a
appea ance, and in eg a ing new eco- iendly ec ea ional ac i i ies
can u he en ich he isi o expe ience. Addi ionally, es ablishing
accessible ou is in o ma ion cen e s and conside ing he
de elopmen o small cul u al o his o ical museums may
compensa e o limi ed he i age ea u es and add in e p e i e alue
o he si es. Sus aining long- e m engagemen and compe i i eness
equi es ins i u ionalizing a sus ainable se ice quali y p og am
oo ed in eco- iendly ope a ions, communi y-led ou guiding, and
s uc u ed isi o eedback sys ems. S eng hening hese
mechanisms ensu es consis en se ice deli e y while empowe ing
local communi ies.
In line wi h he S–O–R Pa adigm and Cus ome Engagemen
Theo y, u u e esea ch may examine addi ional psychological o
con ex ual ac o s in luencing engagemen and may adop mixed-
me hods app oaches o p o ide iche insigh s in o ou is beha io .
Explo ing hese di ec ions can deepen heo e ical unde s anding
and guide mo e e ec i e eco ou ism de elopmen s a egies ac oss
simila des ina ions.
5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This s udy was made possible h ough he in aluable suppo o
men o s, colleagues, and ins i u ional pa ne s. The esea che
exp esses p o ound g a i ude o his ad ise , D . Emma V.
Saga ino, and hesis ins uc o s D . Ma y Jane B. Amoguis and D .
P esen acion C. Acos a, whose guidance and encou agemen we e
i al h oughou he esea ch p ocess. App ecia ion is also
ex ended o he echnical panel membe s—D . Amoguis, D . Elme
Joseph G. No al, D . Dunhill Z. Bilog, and D . Lo ibelle R.
Ocena — o hei expe insigh s ha signi ican ly imp o ed he
s udy’s quali y. The coope a ion o manage s and ope a o s o he
Communi y-Based Eco ou ism Si es, along wi h he assis ance o
iends who helped dis ibu e he ques ionnai es, g ea ly
con ibu ed o he success o he da a collec ion.
The esea che likewise exp esses hea el hanks o his amily o
hei cons an p aye s, mo i a ion, and unwa e ing suppo , and o
he Uni e si y o he Immacula e Concep ion o nu u ing his
academic and esea ch capabili ies. Abo e all, he esea che
hanks Almigh y God o g an ing he wisdom, s eng h, and
guidance needed o comple e his wo k.
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