Human beings are intrinsically social. How social interaction among tourists affect their experience remains under-represented. Drawing on S-O-R theory, social integration theory and social penetration theory, this study proposes and empirically tests a conceptual model that integrates self-disclosure, perceived cohesion, perceived intimacy, tourist engagement and tourist satisfaction with the experience. Also, the tie strength is theorized as a moderator in the relationship between self-disclosure and perceived cohesion as well as perceived intimacy. A field experiment was undertaken to collect data. The results from the structural analysis suggest that self-disclosure influences perceived cohesion and perceived intimacy, which in turn influence their engagement and satisfaction with tourism experience. Moreover, the initial tie strength has moderation effect on the relationship between self-disclosure and perceived cohesion as well as perceived intimacy. Overall, findings of this study contributes to the development of tourism experience research from the perspective of tourist-to-tourist interaction, and broadens the research on tourist engagement. Discussions and implications for tourism operators, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also provided.

The tourism experience factor is an essential source of competitive advantage in the tourism industry and is an important factor for predicting future tourism behavior. Tourism experience elements can be composed of areas of education, entertainment, aesthetics and deviance (Pine and Gilmore, 1998). This study examines the effect of tourist experience factors on tourist loyalty and it is meaningful to see if the experiential economic theory of Pine and Gilmore (1999) is applicable. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey on tourists using experiential tourism factors. As a result, it was found that recreational experiential factors had a significant effect on memory. Memory has a significant effect on both visitor satisfaction and tourist loyalty. This study has academic significance because it focuses on the tourism experience factor which is the core of experiential economic theory. Practical significance is that a lot of experiential contents should be found in order to better match the tourist experience factor to the requirements of visitors to the tourist site. As a result, it is expected to generate revenue and improve its competitiveness.

This study aimed to redefine the concept of fishing village tourism. In addition, it aimed to carry out detailed analyses of the influences of authenticity and non-authenticity of fishing village experience on tourist’s satisfaction as well as the influences of tourist’s experience on their satisfaction. The study evaluated responses of people who visited research target fishing villages in the East sea area(Hwasung-si Baegmi-ri) which had been rated as successful case. The evaluation was performed to analyze how tourist satisfaction would be influenced by the authenticity of the fishing village experience program based on the authenticity theory(Wang, 1999) and the experience realms theory(Pine & Gilmore, 1999). This study tried to find out realistic factors of the experience realms theory through field investigation, conducting interviews, and holding discussions. From these, the cause-and-effect structure of authenticity, tourism experience and satisfaction could be identified. The results of hypothesis tests are as follows; With respect to the relationship between authenticity and satisfaction in hypothesis I, authenticity did not have a statistically significant effect on satisfaction, while non-authenticity had a significant influence. As a result, the research hypothesis I that authenticity influences satisfaction was partially supported. Regarding hypothesis Ⅱ of the link between authenticity and tourism experience, a significant effect of authenticity was found in education experience, entertainment experience for Baegmi-ri village. The effect of non-authenticity was significant on deviation experience. Consequently, hypothesis Ⅱ was also partly supported. The relationship between tourism experience and satisfaction in hypothesis Ⅲ was significant in education, entertainment, and deviation experiences which lends support to hypothesis Ⅲ to some extent.