Exploring Relations between Heritage Interpretation, Visitors Learning Experience and Tourist Satisfaction

• Main Authors: Moreno-Melgarejo Alberto, García-Valenzuela Luis Javier, Hilliard Ivan, Pinto-Tortosa Antonio Jesús
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2019-12-01
• Series: Czech Journal of Tourism: Journal of Masaryk University
• Subjects: heritage interpretation; visitors learning experience; tourist satisfaction; methods of interpretation; z39
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2478/cjot-2019-0007

The main objective of the heritage interpretation is communication and dissemination of scientific knowledge generated around a certain site. Therefore, this article aims to demonstrate that the use of an adequate interpretation methodology contributes to improving a mere aesthetic experience through greater learning outcomes, more intense emotional binding, higher awareness of the heritage conservation and overall satisfaction with the visit. Thus, the heritage interpretation has become a critical tool for creating competitive cultural or nature-based tourism services and products providing hosting destinations with attractive tourism offers. The methods of this study include a literature review, which summarises the findings of different research projects assessing the relationship between the aforementioned variables. The main conclusions drawn from this review are that there exist adequate methodologies for the heritage interpretation, which contribute to improve learning outcomes, improved tourist satisfaction and emotional experiences during the visit.