Cultural heritage-scape and tourists’ psychological well-being: a mixed-method study

Purpose Based on the conceptual framework of therapeutic landscapes and attention restoration theory (ART), this study aims to conceptualize the “cultural heritage-scape” and explore the underlying influence of the cultural heritage-scape on tourists’ psychological well-being mediated by restorative experience. Design/methodology/approach A Chinese heritage site was selected as the study site, and a mixed-method study was conducted that included content analysis of web texts and quantitative analysis of questionnaire data. Findings A cultural heritage-scape has three underlying dimensions: physical, social and symbolic landscape. These three dimensions positively affect tourists’ restorative experience, and tourists’ restorative experience positively influences their psychological well-being. Tourists’ restorative experience plays a partial mediating role between the three dimensions of the cultural heritage-scape and tourists’ psychological well-being. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its focus on a single heritage site. Despite this, the study provides a validated framework highlighting the role of cultural heritage-scapes in enhancing psychological well-being and provides valuable insights for destination management organizations to design and market cultural heritage experiences to promote tourists’ well-being. Originality/value This study is a pioneering effort to conceptualize the cultural heritage-scape and extend the application of ART to a novel context: the realm of cultural heritage sites.