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A Study on the Effect of Authenticity on Heritage Tourists’ Mindful Tourism Experience: The Case of the Forbidden City

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Eck

    (Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

  • Yiwen Zhang

    (Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LN, UK)

  • Soyoung An

    (Department of Sport Industry Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

While heritage tourism has been explored widely in the tourism literature, there remains a need to further understand the antecedent variables that influence tourist experiences in such a context. This study applied mindfulness theory, investigating the effect of authenticity and mindfulness on the tourist experience and how the tourist experience influenced satisfaction and loyalty. A structural model was used with eight proposed hypotheses based on data collected in the spring of 2021 from 363 Chinese visitors to the Forbidden City. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed, enabling variable relations to be tested. Results revealed that authenticity significantly influenced mindfulness, and mindfulness significantly influenced tourists’ experience. Furthermore, two dimensions of tourists’ experience influenced satisfaction and satisfaction influenced loyalty.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Eck & Yiwen Zhang & Soyoung An, 2023. "A Study on the Effect of Authenticity on Heritage Tourists’ Mindful Tourism Experience: The Case of the Forbidden City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7756-:d:1142543
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li Jiang & Thomas Eck & Soyoung An, 2022. "A Study on the Effect of Emotional Solidarity on Memorable Tourism Experience and Destination Loyalty in Volunteer Tourism," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    2. Krešimir Jurlin, 2022. "Were Culture and Heritage Important for the Resilience of Tourism in the COVID-19 Pandemic?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Anis Ur Rehman & Mazhar Abbas & Faraz Ahmad Abbasi & Shoaib Khan, 2023. "How Tourist Experience Quality, Perceived Price Reasonableness and Regenerative Tourism Involvement Influence Tourist Satisfaction: A Study of Ha’il Region, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-27, January.
    4. Tongtong Zheng & Jinfeng Yu & Qian Cheng & Haiyin Pan, 2023. "The Influence Mechanism and Measurement of Tourists’ Authenticity Perception on the Sustainable Development of Rural Tourism—A Study Based on the 10 Most Popular Rural Tourism Destinations in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Lu Yang & Xiao Hu & Hoffer M. Lee & Yuqing Zhang, 2023. "The Impacts of Ecotourists’ Perceived Authenticity and Perceived Values on Their Behaviors: Evidence from Huangshan World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Errmann, Amy & Kim, Jungkeun & Lee, Daniel Chaein & Seo, Yuri & Lee, Jaeseok & Kim, Seongseop Sam, 2021. "Mindfulness and pro-environmental hotel preference," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    7. Chris Zhu & Lawrence Hoc Nang Fong & Manrong Gan, 2023. "Rethinking the consequences of postmodern authenticity: the case of a World Cultural Heritage in Augmented Reality," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 617-631, February.
    8. Gyehee Lee & Xiao Lin & Yunseon Choe & Wenya Li, 2021. "In the Eyes of the Beholder: The Effect of the Perceived Authenticity of Sanfang Qixiang in Fuzhou, China, among Locals and Domestic Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sheling Ye & Lei Shi & Jian Wu & Gwon Hyuk, 2025. "Beyond the Tangible: Factors Influencing Memorable Experiences in Intangible Culture Heritage Tourism in Wuxi, China," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(1), pages 21582440251, February.
    2. Dan Chen, 2023. "How Visitors Perceive Heritage Value—A Quantitative Study on Visitors’ Perceived Value and Satisfaction of Architectural Heritage through SEM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Soyoung An & Li Jiang & Thomas Eck, 2026. "Are dark tourism experiences memorable? Examining mindfulness and memorable tourism experiences in dark tourism," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Chen Xiang & Zikun Huang & Jilei Qian & Nur Aulia Bt Rosni & Norafida Ab Ghafar, 2025. "Embodied Experience and Visitor Loyalty in Historic Cultural Heritage Buildings: Integrating Structural Equation Modeling and Deep Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Nurul Izati Husna Mohd Yusof & Nur Atikah Mezni & Alya Adriana Mohammad Faried & Mohd Hasrul Yushairi Johari, 2025. "How Heritage Site Destruction and Ritual Practices Shape Tourist Satisfaction and Authenticity Perceptions at Pulau Besar, Melaka," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(8), pages 6297-6324, August.

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