Eunice Minjoo Kang, José R. Gutiérrez, Yoonyoung Ahn, Seul Ki Lee
This study examines how destination personality, destination experience, and destination loyalty contribute to perceived resilience in Osaka-Kansai, particularly in the contextual backdrop of Expo 2025. The purpose of the research is to develop a sustainable perspective lens for understanding destination loyalty and perceived destination resilience in vulnerable situations and mega events. The empirical analysis is based on an online survey of 198 Korean travelers who have previously visited the Osaka-Kansai area, one of the most preferred outbound destinations for this market. The study explores perceptions of destination resilience amid post-pandemic recovery, exposure to natural disasters, and the anticipated shift from mega-event driven visibility and overtourism to sustained visitor interest and loyalty. The findings provide a sustainability-oriented framework for understanding relationships and offer both theoretical and practical implications for destination management in contexts characterized by uncertainty and long-term transformation.