h i g h l i g h t sPlace attachment is an antecedent of authenticity of visitor attractions. Heritage value and iconicity are moderators of perceived authenticity. Visitor attractions contribute to the perceived authenticity of tourism destinations. a b s t r a c tThis paper aims to explore the relationships between place attachment and perceived authenticity of major visitor attractions. The empirical study was conducted with a sample of international tourists to major visitor attractions in two capital cities, Helsinki, Finland and Jerusalem, Israel. The results indicate a positive correlation between place attachment and authenticity. Major visitor attractions located in places with considerable heritage experience value are considered more authentic, and that authenticity of visitor attractions is influenced by place attachment moderated by iconicity and heritage value of the destination region. These findings provide insight to the ways tourists perceive authenticity of visitor attractions and highlight the importance of the heritage value of tourism destinations for strategic planning and marketing purposes.

No abstract

No abstract