Effects of tourism experiences on tourists’ subjective well-being through recollection and storytelling

Tourism experiences at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Kulangsu, significantly enhance tourists' subjective well-being by fostering recollection and storytelling. A study involving 830 respondents from two Chinese destinations—Kulangsu and Dr Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum—revealed that positive tourism experiences directly boost recollection and storytelling, which in turn positively impact well-being. While recollection alone does not directly influence well-being, storytelling serves as a crucial mediator between recollection and well-being. The findings highlight the psychological benefits of tourism, particularly through narrative engagement, and validate the robustness of this model across different sites.

Su, L., Pan, L., Wen, J., & Phau, I. (2022). Effects of tourism experiences on tourists’ subjective well-being through recollection and storytelling. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 29(4), 479–497. https://doi.org/10.1177/13567667221101414