Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction and Behavioral Intention in Local Food Tourism: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study investigates the key factors influencing customer satisfaction and behavioral intention in local food tourism (LFT) using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. Data were collected from 380 tourists who experienced local culinary destinations in Thailand through a structured questionnaire measuring food quality, authenticity, service quality, physical environment, cultural experience, perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intention. The results indicate that food quality, authenticity, cultural experience, and perceived value significantly influence customer satisfaction, which in turn strongly predicts tourists’ behavioral intentions such as revisit and recommendation. The findings highlight the importance of delivering authentic, high-quality, and culturally immersive culinary experiences to enhance tourist satisfaction and loyalty in local food tourism destinations.