The perception of travellers and the World Heritage Site image

Differences in how tourists and cruise ship visitors perceive the image of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) are driven by distinct cognitive and affective elements. The study, conducted on 1,019 travellers visiting Dubrovnik’s Old City between April and October 2016, revealed that these two groups form their WHS image differently—tourists prioritize emotional connections, while cruise passengers lean toward more practical or sensory-based evaluations. Using advanced statistical methods like exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), researchers identified key attributes shaping these perceptions, offering a framework to explore how information sources, demographics, and motivations influence overall WHS image formation.

Pavlić, I., Puh, B., & Mišković, L. (2020). The perception of travellers and the World Heritage Site image. Tourism, 68(2), 181–194. https://doi.org/10.37741/t.68.2.6