The Effects of Aesthetic Experiential Qualities on Tourists' Positive Emotions and Loyalty: A Case of a Nature-Based Context in Norway

With the increasing focus on aesthetic qualities in tourism experiences, this study examines the effects of aesthetic experiential qualities on tourists' positive emotions and three loyalty intentions. The findings reveal that tourists' evaluation of the aesthetic qualities of "scenery," "cleanliness," and "genuineness" had significant effects on positive emotions towards nature-based experiences. Positive emotions had direct effects on all three loyalty intentions. While only some of the aesthetic qualities had both direct and indirect effects on travellers' intentions to recommend the route and visit similar routes, only indirect effects on the intention to revisit the route were mediated by positive emotions.