The Impact of Destination Image and Satisfaction on Heritage Tourists’ Loyalty: resenting a Conceptual Model (Case Study: World Collection of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili)

The restoration, preservation, and prosperity of historical monuments in Iran are directly related to the presence of heritage tourists. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of destination image and satisfaction on heritage loyalty within a conceptual model based on the visitors of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili collection in Ardabil, Iran. The research method was descriptive-survey and the sample size was determined to be 375 people by using available sampling method and Cochran formula (unspecified population size). Data were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS softwares. Results showed that most respondents had relatively high satisfaction with their visit to the collection. According to the results of structural equations analysis, the most effective variables related to loyalty, destination image and tourist satisfaction were the variables of tourists' revisit of the collection, awareness and interest and tourism costs, respectively. The destination image also has a significant effect on satisfaction; But effect of destination image on the heritage tourists’ loyalty is mediated by the mediating variable of satisfaction. Therefore, the focus of heritage tourism marketing programs on improving the destination image among heritage tourists would not necessarily lead to an increase in tourists' revisit from the collection. But, attention to satisfaction variable, especially reducing tourism costs and increasing the security feeling, can have more effect on tourists’ loyalty.