National Park Experiences and Satisfaction in Kazakhstan: Perceived Restorativeness and Happiness as Sequential Mediators

Understanding how park visitor experiences contribute to visitor satisfaction is essential for promoting sustainable tourism in protected natural areas. While prior research has established a positive relationship between tourist experiences and satisfaction, less attention has been paid to examining the influence of experience dimensions and their influence on psychological outcomes. By applying three tourist experience dimensions (learning, enjoyment, and escape), this study examined the structural relationships among perceived restorativeness, happiness, and satisfaction among national park visitors in Kazakhstan. Using structural equation modeling, the study examined 253 park visitors’ responses collected from February to April 2025 to test hypotheses. The results revealed that learning, enjoyment, and escape all positively influenced perceived restorativeness. Perceived restorativeness, in turn, significantly enhanced happiness and satisfaction, while happiness also had a positive effect on satisfaction. Moreover, all three experience dimensions exerted significant indirect effects on satisfaction through perceived restorativeness and through the sequential pathway of perceived restorativeness and happiness. Theoretically, the study contributes to the understanding of tourist experience and psychological benefits in a national park setting. Practically, the results highlight the importance of providing psychological restoration experiences to enhance connections to nature among tourists.