The Impact of Travellers’ Motivation on Visit Intention: Applied on Ecolodges

Abstract

Ecolodges represent a growing segment of sustainable hospitality, yet the motivational drivers that shape travellers' intention to visit them remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how push (internal) and pull (external) dimensions of travellers' motivation independently influence visit intention toward ecolodges, drawing on the push-pull motivation theory and the theory of planned behavior.A mixed-methods design was employed. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured in-depth interviews with four experts from Environmental Quality International (EQI), a group of eco-friendly hotels in Egypt, as well as 38 potential travellers. Quantitative data were collected via online and offline self-administered questionnaires distributed through QR codes, yielding a sample of 228 respondents. Data were analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics and SmartPLS 3 for structural equation modelling.Travellers' motivation significantly influences ecolodge visit intention. Importantly, push and pull motivation emerged as distinct constructs with independent effects on visit intention, rather than operating as a unified motivational force. Both dimensions were found to be significant predictors of the intention to visit ecolodges, advancing prior literature that has treated push and pull factors as a consolidated motivational construct.This study provides empirical evidence that push and pull motivations represent separate pathways influencing ecolodge visitation decisions. The findings deepen scholarly understanding of ecotourism consumer behaviour and offer actionable insights for sustainable hospitality practitioners seeking to develop targeted marketing strategies aligned with travellers' distinct internal and external motivational drivers.