The role of tourists' emotional experiences and satisfaction in understanding behavioral intentions

•The study tests a model linking tourists' emotions, satisfaction and behavioral intentions.•Examines the mediating role of satisfaction on the link between emotions and behavioral intentions.•Focuses on international tourists to Petra, a historical site with unique archaeological qualities.•Contributes to limited research on tourists' emotions while visiting UNESCO world heritage sites.•Findings offer important strategic marketing implications for managing destination experiences.

Modeling behavioral intentions remain an important area of research in tourism. This study empirically tests a model linking tourists' emotional experiences, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The model proposes that satisfaction mediates the relationship between tourists' emotional experiences and behavioral intentions. Data were collected from international tourists visiting Petra, a UNESCO world heritage site. Contrary to theoretical predictions, results do not support the mediating effect of satisfaction on the relationship between emotions (joy, love, positive surprise, and unpleasantness) and behavioral intentions. Findings offer important strategic marketing implications for Petra in relation to branding and managing destination experiences.