Agritourism experience value cocreation impact on the brand equity of rural tourism destinations in China

Abstract

Purpose Value cocreation has become an important way to enhance the brand equity of a tourism destination. Different from common tourism contexts, agritourism has strong participatory and productive characteristics and is regarded as a critical platform of value cocreation. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the relationship between agritourism experience value cocreation and brand equity of rural tourism destinations from the perspective of tourists. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted, and 602 valid questionnaires were collected by a random sample in 2021. Structural equation modeling was used to empirically analyze the data. Findings The results revealed that tourists’ participation, interaction and citizenship behaviors play a critical role in brand equity of rural tourism destinations. Meanwhile, tourists’ interaction and citizenship behaviors influenced brand equity of rural tourism destinations, via hedonic enjoyment and eudaimonia experience, and perceived experience value. Tourists’ participation behavior influenced brand equity of rural tourism destinations via hedonic enjoyment experience and perceived experience value. Originality/value This study focusing on agritourism as a critical platform of value cocreation explores the impact of agritourism experience value cocreation on brand equity of rural tourism destinations from the perspective of tourists. It enriches the existing literature on the relationship between value cocreation and brand equity of tourism destination, expands the research on value cocreation and happiness experience and also provides management basis for promoting brand equity of rural tourism destinations.