Unveiling the impacts of tourist experiences on experiential image, satisfaction, and loyalty: a study in Algarve, a European premier beach destination

This study extends the experiential image concept by presenting a new approach. The experiential image refers to the holistic image tourists form and retain during their visit to a destination. The research involved diverse stakeholders (professionals, academics, and tourists) and draws on a large proportionally stratified sample of 2709 tourists. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to determine the relevance of tourists' destination experiences to the formation of the experiential image. Specifically, experiential image was measured in the cognitive dimension through six factors: infrastructures, local culture, eco-friendly features, entertainment, local gastronomy, and landscape. The subsequent affective dimension was measured through three factors: joyful, family-safe, and glamorous. The results demonstrate how tourists' experiences shape their experiential image, satisfaction, and loyalty. The study's novel approach also has considerable relevance for other similar destinations that can benefit from the tested conceptual framework.