*Author for correspondence Indian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 9(S1), DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2016/v9iS1/107314, December 2016 ISSN (Print) : 0974-6846 ISSN (Online) : 0974-5645 The Tourist Experience: Modelling the Relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Destination Loyalty Pinky Pawaskar* and Mridula Goel Department of Economics, BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa Campus - 403726, Goa, India; pinkyp@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in, mridula@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in Abstract Objectives: The paper attempts to develop a post-visit model that focuses on evaluation of consumer’s internal and external satisfactions factors and their influence on destination loyalty in terms of revisit and recommendation. Methods/ Statistical Analysis: The study proposes to understand the relationship between the constructs of satisfaction and loyalty in the post-visit stages of a leisure holiday using the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic factors of travel. The methods used are Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling technique. The demographic factors of age and education are inserted as control variables to identify whether there is a direct or inverse correlation between age, education and the dependent variable of loyalty. Findings: A tourist will revisit and recommend a destination only if satisfied with the experience. The results of the post visit model signify that internal satisfaction has a positive impact on destination loyalty whereas external satisfaction is not a significant factor in building destination loyalty. The findings highlight that internal satisfaction factors influence external satisfaction factors and this also, emphasizes the importance of internal satisfiers. Due to severe competition between destinations offering alike attributes, it is of utmost importance for service providers to identify needs and desires of consumers to offer those services that create a delightful experience. Conclusion/Improvements: The findings can help tourism service providers to increase marketing efficiencies by developing strategically appealing improvements in service features that increase destination attractiveness to different tourist groups creating loyal customers. Keywords: Consumer Behavior, Destination Marketing, Loyalty, Motivation, Satisfaction 1. Introduction In the cosmopolitan world of today the entire globe has become a single market. Te ease of connect and com- mute across the world has increased the human thirst for knowledge, the need to gain new and diverse experiences through travel and tourism, media and entertainment. Improvements in income and standard of living, higher levels of education, ease of interconnectedness have cre- ated a modern lifestyle that has led to an exponential increase in the need to travel and tour. Technology has advanced access to information, and facilitated the move- ment of products and consumers. Markets provide the modern consumer with a wide array of product alterna- tives and also, support him/her in making well informed and calculated choices. Te decision choices available to