Factors Affecting Tourists' Satisfaction in Associated Tourism Chains: Evidence from Vietnam

Tourism is an interdisciplinary, inter-regional, inter-territory integrated economy; therefore, the construction of an associated tourism chain will help localities in the region take greater advantage of tourism resources and tourism products to meet the diverse needs of visitors (UNWTO, 2013). This research seeks to identify the factors affecting the satisfaction of tourists in the associated tourism chain in four central provinces of Vietnam - Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak. The study surveyed 1,361 tourists who have participated in an affiliated tour chain in these provinces during the March-April 2020 period. The survey was conducted online with the help of Google Form and the data collected were processed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and regression analysis. The research results show that two main factors are affecting the satisfaction of tourists in the associated tourism chain in the above regions, namely, (i) tourism resources (cultural beauty in localities in the associated tourism chain, local cuisine in the affiliated travel chain, natural landscapes/local attractions in the linked tourism chain, etc.); and (ii) tourism environment (the climate in localities in the associated tourism chain, the clean and fresh environment in localities in the associated tourism chain, etc.).