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This article applies models from the field of positive psychology in conceptualising and appraising visitor or tourist satisfaction. In particular, visitor engagement is explored using personal narrative essays as a means of assessing satisfaction. Twenty university study-abroad students participated in the study, writing reflective essays about their year-long overseas experience. The results suggest that aspects of flow, and other concepts from positive psychology, were part of the students' satisfaction. Exploring engagement in this way has thus uncovered a fresh layer of satisfaction that could not have been detected by a traditional tourist satisfaction approach.