Information sources and tourism heritage: a sustainable economy perspective

Abstract

PurposeConserving appropriately the culture and heritage of a city through sustainable tourism is a key element for its economic development. Heritage cities generate economic, social and environmental benefits through tourism management. This study aims to intend, in the context of economic sustainability of the territory and promotion, to improve the understanding of the relationship between the sources of information of tourists and their motivations, with satisfaction and future behaviour intentions. For this, a study has been carried out in the Old Town of Cáceres (Spain), a city recognised as a world heritage property by UNESCO.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a descriptive analysis, based on frequencies. For data collection, a structured questionnaire has been used to identify the opinion of tourists during their visit to the heritage city of Cáceres.FindingsThis study demonstrates the existence of a positive relationship between the sources of information and the tourist experience with their future behavioural intentions and satisfaction of their visit. All this in the global context of the destination for sustainable economy and the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. Furthermore, the results of the study suggest that the motivations of tourists are the most important factor in explaining the overall experience and loyalty of tourists to a city.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study is the data set used. The results must be contextualised at the time and place when the questionnaire was conducted.Practical implicationsThe proposed model makes it possible to advance future heritage tourism strategies, in terms of planning and communication of the heritage resources of a destination. Tourism heritage institutions should increasingly invest in communication improvements based on new technologies and social media. At the same time, integrated planning with special policies for the sustainable protection of heritage can make important progress in the tourist and cultural development of the destination.Originality/valueThis article tests for the first time within the context of heritage cities in Spain and in the context of a sustainable economy and cultural heritage for destination, the relationship between different sources of site promotion information and future tourist behaviour intentions. It provides original evidence of the value of applying the underlying theory of the proposed model in a world heritage tourist destination.

Do intangible factors enhance sociocultural productivity and economy in world heritage sites?

“…Urban heritage contributes significantly to the cultural identity of a city (Zhang et al, 2020). For locals and tourists alike, these places often evoke feelings of belonging and pride (Abd Aziz et al, 2020;Butler et al, 2022;Folgado-Fernández et al, 2024). Locals may experience a deep sense of attachment, as their personal histories become intertwined with the city's history generating empathy and connection related to the achievements of past generations (Lang et al, 2023).…”

“…The cultural and social productivity of an urban WHS is related to its ability to foster a sense of identity, pride and social cohesion among local communities (Tan and Tan, 2020;Zhou et al, 2022;Folgado-Fernández et al, 2024). To measure this dimension, some studies have included the participation of local residents in cultural activities, educational programmes and community events related to the heritage site.…”