Gender Disparities in Tourist Behaviour: The Influence of Tourism Performance Indicators

Abstract

This study reviews the factors contributing to tourists' intention to visit Haridwar (TIVH), a prominent religious and cultural tourism destination in India, with a focus on service quality (SQ) customer satisfaction (CS), destination image (DI), and how gender moderates these relationships and how gender moderates these relationships through a standardized survey, and To test the hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was applied. The findings demonstrate that SQ, CS, and DI are significant positive predictors of TIVH. Additionally, gender moderates these relationships, with female tourists perceiving higher SQ and a more positive DI compared to males. The study contributes to tourism literature by integrating service experience, consumer perceptions, and destination marketing perspectives into a comprehensive model, addressing the gap in gender-focused research in religious tourism contexts. Practical implications include recommendations for enhancing SQ, improving customer satisfaction, and leveraging destination branding to attract mindful tourists. Gender-sensitive strategies, such as ensuring safety and comfort for female tourists, are also emphasised. This research provides actionable insights for tourism stakeholders to foster sustainable growth and enhance the overall visitor experience in Haridwar, while offering a framework for future studies in similar cultural and religious tourism destinations.