Revealing the Inner Relationships Between Perceived Authenticity, Heritage Conscience and Heritage Responsibility

A study reveals that tourists' perceived authenticity of architectural heritage significantly influences their heritage conscience and, consequently, their sense of responsibility towards cultural preservation. Conducted across two UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Kaiping Diaolou and Fujian Tulou—the research employs partial least squares structural equation modeling to demonstrate that while architectural authenticity impacts heritage conscience, traditional customs do not have a significant effect. It also highlights that interpersonal conscience shapes intrapersonal conscience, which in turn drives heritage responsibility. These findings underscore the role of perceived authenticity as a mediator between architectural heritage and responsible behavior, offering insights for sustainable heritage management.

Yi, X., Lin, T., Zhang, G., & Jing, X. (2026). Revealing the Inner Relationships Between Perceived Authenticity, Heritage Conscience and Heritage Responsibility. International Journal of Tourism Research, 28(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.70251