AN INTEGRATED S-O-R FRAMEWORK FOR CROSS-BORDER GOLF TOURISM: LINKING DESTINATION IMAGE, GOLF COURSE QUALITY, GOLFER INTENTION, AND DESTINATION LOYALTY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JTHEM.1145059Keywords:
Destination Image, Destination Loyalty, Golf Course Quality, Golfer Intention, Golf Tourism, S-O-R FrameworkAbstract
Golf tourism serves as a lucrative niche segment driving regional economic resilience. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, this study examines an integrated model evaluating the impact of Destination Image and Golf Course Quality on Golfer Intention and Destination Loyalty within an emerging Southeast Asian cross-border hub, Batam City, Indonesia. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire targeting 200 domestic and international golf tourists with direct golfing experience in Batam. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized for empirical testing. Findings reveal that both Destination Image (β = 0.412, p < 0.001) and Golf Course Quality (β = 0.398, p < 0.001) significantly drive Golfer Intention. Furthermore, Golfer Intention strongly predicts Destination Loyalty (β = 0.862, p < 0.001) while serving as a crucial mediating mechanism across both structural paths. This study advances the S-O-R theory by validating product-specific and destination-level stimuli in predicting cross-border loyalty. Practical implications highlight that destination managers and golf operators must prioritize core facility maintenance alongside regional branding to capture golfer intentions and secure long-term tourist retention.
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