Enhancing emotional responses of tourists in cultural heritage tourism: The case of Pingyao, China

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Journal of Heritage Tourism

Volume

19

Issue

1

First Page

91

Last Page

110

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

60714

Comments

Rasoolimanesh, S. M., & Lu, S. (2023). Enhancing emotional responses of tourists in cultural heritage tourism: The case of Pingyao, China. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 19(1), 91-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2023.2254420

Abstract

This study aims to examine the interplay between heritage tourists’ experiences and their emotional responses, and to identify the mediating effect of Memorable Tourism Experiences (MTE), drawing upon the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory. The study was conducted in Pingyao, a UNESCO-listed heritage city. Employing a convergent concurrent mixed-methods approach, this study combines quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) methods to collect data. The results identified the positive effects of authenticity, nostalgia, and sacredness on MTE. Additionally, the study demonstrated that under the mediating effect of MTE, authenticity, nostalgia, and sacredness directly and indirectly affect subjective well-being and destination image. Although the direct impact of sacredness on destination image has not been definitively identified, the indirect impact mediated by MTE is positive and significant. This paper contributes to the research on tourist emotions and offers practical suggestions for the development of cultural heritage sites.

DOI

10.1080/1743873X.2023.2254420

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