A Comparison of Tourists' and Residents' Uses of the Temple of Heaven World Heritage Site, China

Residents and tourists exhibit distinct spatial and temporal patterns of use at the Temple of Heaven World Heritage Site, with local users primarily elderly individuals engaging regularly for exercise and social purposes, while tourists are more driven by the site's historical and cultural values. The study, which compared motivations, preferences, and experiences across three user groups—residents, domestic tourists, and international tourists—reveals divergent interpretations of heritage significance. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and observations, researchers identified key differences in how these groups interact with the site, offering practical insights for visitor management strategies to accommodate diverse user needs while preserving the site's universal values.

Su, M. M., & Wall, G. (2015). A Comparison of Tourists’ and Residents’ Uses of the Temple of Heaven World Heritage Site, China. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 21(8), 905–930. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2015.1084346