Navigating Heritagescapes: a spatial-cognitive mapping approach for optimal tour route recommendations

Visitors to UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) with varying spatial awareness navigate and perceive heritage landscapes differently, leading to distinct tour routes. A study on Mahabalipuram’s monuments revealed that visitors’ spatial cognitive mapping—how they mentally organize and relate monuments—significantly influences their mobility patterns. Using a framework combining behavioural geography and Lefebvre’s socio-spatial theory, researchers analyzed how spatially oriented and non-oriented groups interacted with the site, uncovering key differences in route preferences. These findings provide actionable insights for optimizing tour recommendations, enhancing visitor experience while preserving heritage integrity.

Devraj, V., Hasana, U., Swain, S., & Kamalapathy, R. (2025). Navigating Heritagescapes: a spatial-cognitive mapping approach for optimal tour route recommendations. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 20(5), 623–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2025.2495032