Nostalgic Emotion, Experiential Value, Destination Image, and Place Attachment of Cultural Tourists

This study postulates that the nostalgic emotion of cultural tourists affects their perceived experiential value and helps to evoke their destination image, which contributes to the formation of place attachment. The study deploys a survey research in which questionnaires are distributed in Mystical Yan Cheng, a theme park in China that is built on the historical remains of the Spring and Autumn Annals. The study collects 347 valid responses. The results reveal the multifaceted nature of a destination image. Furthermore, nostalgic emotion positively contributes to the place attachment of cultural tourists. However, the study also illustrates an inadequate understanding of the nature of nostalgic emotion and further study is recommended. The results of the study also indicate that a high level of satisfaction does not necessarily contribute to destination image and place attachment.