The Impact of Tourism Destination Image on Tourist Behavioral Intention through Tourist Satisfaction: Evidence from the Ramelau Mountain, Timor-Leste

The objectives of the research are to investigate the influence of destination image and tourist satisfaction on tourist behavioral intention, and to test the mediation effect of tourist satisfaction on the relationship between destination image and tourist behavioral intention. Using accidental sampling method, 400 tourists visited Ramelau Mountain participated in the survey by filling up the prepared questionnaires. While Smart-PLS 3.1 was used for data analysis. The result of the research demonstrates that tourist destination image and tourist satisfaction positively and significantly influences tourist behavioral intention, and tourist satisfaction significantly influences the relationship between destination image and behavioral intention. Empirically the research helps enrich studies on tourist destinations with tourist behavioral intention in countries that just start developing their tourism industry. This study also assists the government in developing natural attractions, culture, infrastructure, facility, accessibility, value, and price to change tourist behavioral intention to visit and revisit, and to recommend tourist destinations to other people.