Tourists’ Behavioral Intentions and Travel Motives: The Case of South Cotabato Province, Philippines

Aladin Ibrahim; Patricia Marie M. Aguirre Aguirre; Ericka P. Lee

Aladin Ibrahim Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management
Patricia Marie M. Aguirre Aguirre Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management
Ericka P. Lee Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management

Keywords: travel motives, behavioral intentions, tourists, destination, travel

Abstract

This study analyzed the influence of travel motives on behavioral intentions of tourists. Survey method was used in this study and employed a purposive sampling. The findings revealed that restoration as travel motive rated extremely high, while learning and discovery, passive enjoyment, self-fulfillment, social interaction, and destination image were all very high. The level of tourists’ intention to revisit, and intention to recommend were all very high. Restoration, learning and discovery, and self-fulfillment appeared to be the significant predictors to intention to revisit. Restoration, social interaction, and passive enjoyment significantly influence intentions of tourists to recommend a travel destination. This study is a significant contribution to the limited local researches in the area which may assist in generating tourism-related strategies and policies.