Main Article Content

Abstract

This study investigates the role of destination image as a mediator in the relationships among digital marketing, leadership, the marketing mix, and tourist satisfaction. A total of 420 respondents participated in the survey, which was distributed both online and offline to tourists who visited various destinations in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The sampling technique employed was purposive sampling to ensure that respondents were relevant to the research context. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that digital marketing, leadership, and marketing mix exert significant positive effects on destination image. Furthermore, destination image significantly influences tourist satisfaction, confirming its pivotal role in shaping tourists’ overall experiences. Mediation analysis indicates that destination image partially mediates the relationships between digital marketing, leadership, marketing mix, and tourist satisfaction. Interestingly, the direct effect of leadership on tourist satisfaction was not statistically significant, suggesting that leadership influences satisfaction primarily through enhancing destination image. This study contributes to the tourism marketing literature by providing empirical evidence of the mediating role of destination image in the digital era. The results highlight the importance of integrated marketing strategies and leadership in strengthening destination image to enhance tourist satisfaction. Practical implications suggest that tourism stakeholders should optimize digital marketing tools, adopt effective leadership practices, and improve the marketing mix to build a strong destination image that fosters sustainable tourist satisfaction.

Keywords

destination image digital marketing leadership marketing mix tourist satisfaction PLS-SEM

Article Details

How to Cite
Syafriani, O., Relifra, R., Maulana, F. ., Wahyuni, C., & Zulbaidah, Z. (2025). Destination Image as a Mediator between Digital Marketing, Leadership, Marketing Mix, and Tourist Satisfaction. Amkop Management Accounting Review (AMAR), 5(2), 1234–1243. https://doi.org/10.37531/amar.v5i2.3300

References

  1. Alcocer, N. H., Raúl, V., & Ruiz, L. (2019). The role of destination image in tourist satisfaction : the case of a heritage site. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2019.1654399
  2. Amani, D., & Chao, E. (2023). How does destination governance build residents’ behavioural support towards destination branding: An empirical study of the tourism sector in Tanzania. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), 2192441. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2192441
  3. Bagheri, F., Guerreiro, M., Pinto, P., & Ghaderi, Z. (2023). From Tourist Experience to Satisfaction and Loyalty: Exploring the Role of a Sense of Well-Being. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875231201509
  4. Basha, M. (2023). Impact of artificial intelligence on marketing. In East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. staff.univ-batna2.dz. https://staff.univ-batna2.dz/sites/default/files/saadna_yassmina/files/993-1004_mahabubbasha_impactofartificialintelligenceonmarketing.pdf
  5. Beritelli, P., Bieger, T., & Laesser, C. (2014). The New Frontiers of Destination Management: Applying Variable Geometry as a Function-Based Approach. Journal of Travel Research, 53(4), 403–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287513506298
  6. Buhalis, D. (2022). Tourism management and marketing in transformation: editor’s statement and introduction to the Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing. Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800377486.tourism.management.marketing
  7. Casali, G. L., Liu, Y., Presenza, A., & Moyle, C.-L. (2021). How does familiarity shape destination image and loyalty for visitors and residents? Journal of Vacation Marketing, 27(2), 151–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766720969747
  8. Chamboko-Mpotaringa, M., & Tichaawa, T. M. (2021). Tourism Digital Marketing Tools and Views on Future Trends: A Systematic Review of Literature. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(2), 712–726. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-128
  9. Chaudhary, M., & Islam, N. U. (2024). Introduction: Tourism in a VUCA World. In N. U. Islam, M. Chaudhary, & I. M. Vukadin (Eds.), Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism (pp. 1–7). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-674-020241001
  10. Chiu, W., Zeng, S., & Cheng, P. S. (2016). The influence of destination image and tourist satisfaction on tourist loyalty : a case study of Chinese tourists in Korea. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research. Emerald Insight, Vol. 10(Issue: 2). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-07-2015-0080
  11. Esmaili, S., Rezaei, N., Abbasi, R., & Eskandari, S. (2017). The Impact of Marketing Mix on Perceived Value , Destination Image and Loyalty of Tourists ( Case Study : Khalkhal City , Iran ). Modern Applied Science. Canadian Center of Science and Education, 11(11). https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v11n11p96
  12. FAUR, M., & BAN, O. (2022). the Role of Tourism Destination Management Organizations in the Development of Tourism Activities. The Annals of the University of Oradea. Economic Sciences, 31(31(1)), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.47535/1991auoes31(1)004
  13. Gursoy, D., & Chi, C. G. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on hospitality industry: review of the current situations and a research agenda. Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, 29(5), 527–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2020.1788231
  14. Hall, C. M., Prayag, G., & Amore, A. (2017). Tourism and resilience: Individual, organisational and destination perspectives. Tourism and Resilience: Individual, Organisational and Destination Perspectives, November, 1–189. https://doi.org/10.21832/HALL6300
  15. Hossain, A., Hasan, S., Khan, Y. H., & Kabir, H. (2021). Assessing the effect of marketing mix on tourists ’ satisfaction : insights from Bangladesh Assessing the effect of marketing mix on tourists ’ satisfaction : insights from Bangladesh Afzal Hossain * Shahedul Hasan Md Yusuf Hossein Khan Md . Humayun Kabir Chowdhury. July. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSOM.2021.10044297
  16. Ibrahim, V. M., & Wildan, M. A. (2022). Peran Kepemimpinan Transformasional Dalam Menghadapi Pariwisata Era Digital. Eqien - Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 11(04). https://doi.org/10.34308/eqien.v11i04.1330
  17. Keni, K., Wilson, N., Adrianto, F., Dharmawan, P., & Teoh, A. P. (2024). Leveraging the S-O-R Framework to Determine Tourists’ Willingness to Revisit Riau Island. Jurnal Komunikasi, 16(1), 257–287. https://doi.org/10.24912/jk.v16i1.28668
  18. Kotler, P., Bowen, J. T., Makens, J. C., & Baloglu, S. (2017). Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism. Pearson. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=3kg2jgEACAAJ
  19. Laesser, C., Reinhold, S., & Beritelli, P. (2025). The 2024 consensus on advances in destination management. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 38, 101038. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2025.101038
  20. Magatef, S. G. (2015). The Impact of Tourism Marketing Mix Elements on the Satisfaction of Inbound Tourists to Jordan Head of Marketing Department. 6(7), 41–58.
  21. Marques, C., Vinhas da Silva, R., & Antova, S. (2021). Image, satisfaction, destination and product post-visit behaviours: How do they relate in emerging destinations? Tourism Management, 85, 104293. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104293
  22. Morrison, A. M. (2013). Marketing and managing tourism destinations. In Marketing and Managing Tourism Destinations. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203081976
  23. Muluneh, D. W., Chiriko, A. Y., & Taye, T. T. (2022). Tourism Destination Marketing Challenges and Prospects: The Case of the Southern Route of Ethiopia. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 11(1), 294–309. https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.226
  24. Nunkoo, R., Ramkissoon, H., & Gursoy, D. (2012). Public trust in tourism institutions. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(3), 1538–1564. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.04.004
  25. Prayag, G., Muskat, B., & Dassanayake, C. (2024). Leading for Resilience: Fostering Employee and Organizational Resilience in Tourism Firms. Journal of Travel Research, 63(3), 659–680. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875231164984
  26. Rahman, M., Islam, M. S., Amin, M. Al, Sultana, R., & Talukder, M. I. (2019). Effective Factors of Service Marketing Mix on Tourist Satisfaction: A Case Study. Asian Social Science, 15(7), 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v15n7p1
  27. Relifra, & Wardi, Y. (2022). The Effect of Tourism Service Marketing Mix, Destination Image and Tourist Motivation on Tourist Satisfaction Tourism in Bukit Khayangan Tourism Object Sungai Penuh City, Jambi Province. Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 659, 159–169. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.220702.024
  28. Saini, S., & Arasanmi, C. N. (2021). Attaining digital advocacy behaviour through destination image and satisfaction. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 7(1), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-07-2019-0108
  29. Sartori, A., Mottironi, C., & Corigliano, M. A. (2012). Tourist destination brand equity and internal stakeholders: An empirical research. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 18(4), 327–340. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766712459689
  30. Sharafuddin, M. A., Madhavan, M., & Wangtueai, S. (2024). Assessing the Effectiveness of Digital Marketing in Enhancing Tourist Experiences and Satisfaction: A Study of Thailand’s Tourism Services. Administrative Sciences, 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14110273
  31. Sigala, M. (2020). Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for advancing and resetting industry and research. Journal of Business Research, 117(June), 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.015
  32. Streimikiene, D., Svagzdiene, B., Jasinskas, E., & Simanavicius, A. (2021). Sustainable tourism development and competitiveness: The systematic literature review. Sustainable Development, 29(1), 259–271. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2133
  33. Stylidis, D. (2020). Residents’ destination image: a perspective article. In Tourism Review (Vol. 75, Issue 1, pp. 228–231). https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-05-2019-0191
  34. Teviana, T., Ginting, P., Lubis, A. N., & Gultom, P. (2017). Antecedents of Tourism Destination Image and Customer Satisfaction in Tourism Industry. European Research Studies Journal, XX(3), 435–445.
  35. Uehara, W., & Kamata, H. (2024). Tourist Xenophobia and Residents’ Perspective in the VUCA Era: The Case of Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In N. U. Islam, M. Chaudhary, & I. M. Vukadin (Eds.), Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism (pp. 105–118). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-674-020241008
  36. Vukadin, I. M., & Islam, N. U. (2024). Challenges to Be Answered and Answers to Be Challenged. In N. U. Islam, M. Chaudhary, & I. M. Vukadin (Eds.), Tourism in a VUCA World: Managing the Future of Tourism (pp. 231–237). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-674-020241016
  37. Wilopo, W., & Nuralam, I. P. (2025). An investigating the influence of social media marketing activities on revisit intention among Indonesian international tourists. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), 2440626. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2440626
  38. Xiang, Z., Magnini, V. P., & Fesenmaier, D. R. (2015). Information technology and consumer behavior in travel and tourism: Insights from travel planning using the internet. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 22, 244–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2014.08.005

Similar Articles

<< < 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.