The mediating roles of travel motives and social capital on the relationship between cultural intelligence and general life satisfaction

Drawing on the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory, this study examines how cultural intelligence affects travel motives and the development of bonding social capital. The interactions among cultural intelligence, travel motives, bonding social capital and overall life satisfaction were tested empirically, in particular the mediating effect of travel motives and bonding social capital. Findings support the AMO theory, demonstrating the significant interactions among cultural intelligence, travel motives and bonding social capital. Interestingly, travel motives and bonding social capital can fully mediate the relationship between cultural intelligence and overall life satisfaction. This study expands our sound understanding of cultural intelligence, travel motives, and bonding social capital in tourism and the crucial roles of travel motives and bonding social capital in predicting overall life satisfaction, and provides insights in destination marketing strategy development.