A Multi-Dimensional Study on Cultural Heritage Tourism: a Global Perspective

Abstract

This study has some critical purposes such as: 1) To develop a theoretical structural model of cultural heritage tourism destination image formation and future intentions by investigating tourist functional motivation, motivational conflicts, and perceived value in cultural heritage tourism; and, 2) To test empirically the conceptual model of relationships among the constructs, 3) To identify the differences of functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions across the demographic and visiting behaviors of cultural tourists; 4) To examine the impact of tourist functional motivation on perceived value in cultural heritage tourism; 5) To examine the relationship among perceived value, overall destination image, and future intentions in cultural heritage tourism; 6) To examine the differences of gender motivational conflict on functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions; and, 7) To examine the influences of cultural distance on functional motivation, perceived value, overall destination image and future intentions in cultural heritage tourists. Data were collected from tourists visiting the Iran. The six-stage procedures of structural equation modeling, which was suggested by Hair et al. (2006, p.734) was adopted to test the multiple relationships in the proposed model. This study will contribute to both research and practice.

Keywords: cultural heritage tourism, perceived values, domestic and international tourists