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Immersive HCI for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism Contexts: A Narrative Review of Design and Evaluation

Author

Listed:
  • Zhan Xu

    (School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University, Galashiels TD1 3HF, UK)

  • Feng Liu

    (School of Fine Arts and Design, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde 067000, China)

  • Guobin Xia

    (School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK)

  • Shuo Wang

    (Holographic Arts Centre, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing 102600, China)

  • Yiting Duan

    (School of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Luwen Yu

    (Computational Media and Arts Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

  • Shichao Zhao

    (College of Business, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Muzi Li

    (School of Media, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150080, China)

Abstract

Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and multisensory interaction are increasingly deployed to support the transmission and presentation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), particularly within tourism and heritage interpretation contexts. In cultural tourism, ICH is often encountered through museums, heritage sites, festivals, and digitally mediated experiences rather than through sustained community-based transmission, raising important challenges for interaction design, accessibility, and cultural representation. This study presents a narrative review of immersive human–computer interaction (HCI) research in the context ICH, with a particular focus on tourism-facing applications. An initial dataset of 145 records was identified through a structured search of major academic databases from their inception to 2024. Following staged screening based on relevance, publication type, and temporal criteria, 97 empirical or technical studies published after 2020 were included in the final analysis. The review synthesises how immersive technologies are applied across seven ICH domains and examines their deployment in key tourism-related settings, including museum interpretation, heritage sites, and sustainable cultural tourism experiences. The findings reveal persistent tensions between technological innovation, cultural authenticity, and user engagement, challenges that are especially pronounced in tourism context. The review also maps the dominant methodological approaches, including user-centred design, participatory frameworks, and mixed-method strategies. By integrating structured screening with narrative synthesis, the review highlights fragmentation in the field, uneven methodological rigour, and gaps in both cultural adaptability and long-term sustainability, and outlines future directions for culturally responsive and inclusive immersive HCI research in ICH tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhan Xu & Feng Liu & Guobin Xia & Shuo Wang & Yiting Duan & Luwen Yu & Shichao Zhao & Muzi Li, 2025. "Immersive HCI for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism Contexts: A Narrative Review of Design and Evaluation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-31, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2025:i:1:p:153-:d:1824537
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