Proposed Improvement Model for Island-Based Tourism in West Island, China: Mixed-Methods Research

Island destinations combine natural settings, local culture, and participatory activities that may support recovery, social connection, and personal meaning. Evidence remains limited on the relative contribution of different island experience dimensions to tourist satisfaction and well-being, especially in inhabited island destinations. This study examined four experience dimensions in West Island, Sanya, China, and used the findings to develop a destination improvement model. Tourist satisfaction was conceptualised as a visit-specific evaluation, while tourist well-being referred to the broader psychological benefits associated with travel. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was adopted. The quantitative phase used 411 valid questionnaires from Chinese domestic tourists. A full six-construct confirmatory factor analysis assessed the measurement model, after which multiple and simple linear regressions tested the prespecified direct relationships. The six-factor model showed good fit (χ2(390) = 389.98, p = 0.491, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.000, SRMR = 0.035). The four experience dimensions explained 58.0% of the variance in tourist satisfaction. Co-creation experience made the largest unique contribution (β = 0.345), followed by emotional experience (β = 0.329) and environmental experience (β = 0.312; all p < 0.001). Educational experience was not significant (β = 0.029, p = 0.422). Tourist satisfaction had a significant positive influence on tourist well-being (β = 0.764, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.583). Semi-structured interviews with 12 experienced tourists explained the coefficient pattern through ten themes, and seven academic and industry experts refined five strategic components through two Delphi rounds. The resulting model prioritises cultural co-creation, emotional resonance, environmental quality, and service support, while treating transformative learning as an area for targeted development and evaluation. The integration of survey results, tourist accounts, and expert assessment provides an evidence base for selecting and monitoring destination improvements in inhabited island settings.