From axe to awe: assessing the co-effects of awe and authenticity on industrial heritage tourism

This study aims to fill the current research gap on industrial heritage tourism, which is boasting a fast galvanizing and very current market niche, by systematically modelling and evaluating the dimensionality of the experience quality of industrial heritage tourists, with the incorporation of the variables of awe experience, authenticity experience, perceived value and behavioural intentions. An empirical study is conducted on visitors to the Mt. Tangshan Quarry Park in east China, with its mixed and contested expressions and presentations of intact axed scars left to nature, as against awed economic and socio-cultural revitalization and redemption. Study results reveal that the awe experience performs a full mediating effect between authenticity experience and experience quality, while no mediating effect was found between experience quality and behavioural intentions. This study contributes to understanding and utilization of industrial heritage sites as icons for economic and socio-cultural rebirth and rejuvenation availed by tourism development.