ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between water transportation attributes, tourist satisfaction, and response behaviour towards Sundarbans tourism. Water transportation is a crucial factor that has a direct effect on the tourism industry's rapid growth. Water transport presently accommodates a large number of tourists worldwide, particularly in Bangladesh's Sundarbans. While providing travellers with amenities, the quality of water transportation elicits a variety of responses regarding its benefits and drawbacks. Design/methodology/approach: This study was carried out in the Sundarbans, a popular tourist destination. The questionnaires were collected online using Google Forms and distributed to 400 Sundarbans-related Facebook group members. A linear and multiple regression data analysis was performed using the SPSS application (version 26).
Findings: The results found that water transport attributes have a substantial effect on tourist satisfaction and response behaviour. Tourist satisfaction is acting as a mediator between water transport attributes and response behaviour in the Sundarbans. The study's findings suggested that in order to attract tourists to the Sundarbans as well as obtain tourist satisfaction and positive response behaviour, correct utilisation of water transport attributes is required. Originality/value: This study contributes to the development of the water transportation sector of tourism, especially in the Sundarbans, and provides an opportunity for future researchers to expand the context of the research framework in other tourism destination settings.
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