From on-chain activity to behavioural loyalty: a method framework for constructing the Tokenised Loyalty Accumulation Index in Web3 tourism

Measuring loyalty in Web3 tourism platforms is challenging because conventional indicators are usually designed for survey-based, post-consumption, or transaction-history settings, whereas tokenised platforms generate persistent but noisy traces of asset holding and exchange. This study develops and validates the Tokenised Loyalty Accumulation (TLA) Index as a trace-based measure of one observable behavioural layer of loyalty in tokenised tourism platforms. The index translates wallet-level ownership and transaction records into three daily platform-level indicators: holder retention, holding stability, and anchoring. Together, these indicators distinguish sustained membership-linked participation from short-term circulation or speculative token activity. Using Travala’s Travel Tiger NFT ecosystem as an empirical illustration, the study shows how the index can be constructed from on-chain data and assessed through a structured validation strategy. The results indicate that the three indicators form a coherent PCA-based index, remain robust under alternative constructions, and are distinct from simple blockchain proxies. Platform-level application further shows that the TLA Index is positively associated with revenue, room bookings, and flight bookings. The study contributes a method-led measurement framework for converting noisy on-chain traces into an interpretable behavioural indicator for Web3 tourism research.