cultural tourism questionnaire

Research article
Open access
Published: 06 May 2021

The cultural and heritage tourist, SEM analysis: the case of The Citadel of the Catholic King

Ricardo David Hernández-Rojas 1 ,
Juan Antonio Jimber del Río ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6886-7434 1 ,
Alberto Ibáñez Fernández 2 &
Arnaldo Vergara-Romero 3

Heritage Science volume 9 , Article number: 52 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

15k Accesses

15 Citations

4 Altmetric

Metrics details

This study researches the loyalty of travelers to destinations which include material cultural heritage. It analyzes the loyalty of visitors to a destination with cultural heritage sites in order to provide results which can be used to improve the management of the destination. This research used Warp-PLS 7.0 software with a structural equations model to evaluate the 8 proposed and validated hypotheses. A questionnaire was given to a sample of 499 tourists who visited The Citadel of the Catholic King in Córdoba and the statistical study of the replies gave results about the loyalty of visitors to a destination which includes cultural heritage. This study adds an innovative component by analyzing the moderating effect of perceived heritage quality and perceived cultural quality on the relationship of perceived value and visitor satisfaction. This study shows that visitor loyalty to The Citadel of the Catholic King depends on the visitor satisfaction with the cultural heritage, it also analyses how the quality perceived by the tourist modulates to varying degrees the relationship between perceived value and tourist satisfaction. Areas which can be improved at cultural heritage sites have been identified and these include the professionalization of tour guides specialized in cultural heritage sites, improving and showing the cultural importance of the heritage, the information available about the heritage and the access to the heritage. These findings are important for city managers when preparing projects to increase the loyalty and competitiveness of the city compared to other similar destinations with cultural heritage.

Introduction

Cultural material heritage has become a factor which can make a city more attractive to visitors. Adequate management of the heritage is essential to achieve visitor satisfaction during and after the visit as well as improve the visitor expectations before and the perceived quality after the visit. Continuous improvement of these aspects can be the differentiating factor for the loyalty of the visitor to the city. The strong competition for visitors between destinations with heritage and culture sites, especially UNESCO listed sites, means that making continual improvements to the management of these sites is essential. The current situation will only become more difficult in the future [ 1 ]. In view of this, visitor loyalty to a destination is an important factor to take into account, especially for tourist destinations in areas with cultural heritage [ 2 ]. This research makes a valuable contribution to this subject [ 2 ].

The Citadel of the Catholic King is material heritage that has a lot of historical and cultural relevance. Firstly, due to the cultures that used the site. The first record of the existence of the enclave comes from Roman culture when it was used as a way to defend the city against incursions made on the Guadalquivir River. After that it became the center of Arabic culture in Spain, being used as the residence of the city rulers. After the reconquest of Cordoba by the Catholic kings, it was transformed into a building where the monarchs could rest and relax. The Citadel of the Catholic King is also a place where important historical changes for Spain and the world happened. It was the place where Cristopher Columbus met the Catholic Kings, who were the Monarchs that unified Spain into a Kingdom [ 3 ]. The building that can be visited today was built by Alfonso XI in 1328 on the site of the Omeya Citadel (Arabic origin) [ 4 ]. From 1492 to 1811, it was owned by the holy Catholic inquisition. From 1822 to 1931 it was a prison and later used as a military installation until its transfer in 1955 to the Córdoba City Council, which now owns it and manages it as a tourist site [ 5 ]. The Alcázar was classified as a Historical Monument in 1931 and is in the area in Córdoba that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. Currently, The Citadel of the Catholic King is the third most visited material heritage in Cordoba, the second being the synagogue of Cordoba and the first is the Mosque-Cathedral. In 2019 it had 615,737 tourist visits, and an average growth in visits of 10.69% in the last 10 years (Observatorio de turismo de Córdoba, 2019).

This study is based in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) [ 6 ], which is a model that has been fully tested for use in research on tourism [ 7 ], tourist satisfaction [ 8 ], heritage [ 9 ] and culture [ 10 ].

“The ACSI model has been used in multiple studies of satisfaction and loyalty in tourism in general and in heritage tourism [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].

The model is based on the expectations that are created before visiting a heritage tourism destination (expected quality). Tourists once they arrive at their destination, live the experience at destination, perceive the quality of different factors that build the perceived quality. Both constructs, (expected quality and perceived quality) relate to the perceived value, which compares the balance or imbalance between perceived cost at its destination and the value received at it. Once the tourist has internalized the perceived value, he is able to assess the level of satisfaction at the destination. The satisfaction level allows you to decide to recommend and repeat the destination (Loyalty).”

This study expands the existing literature about the satisfaction and loyalty of heritage and cultural tourists, since the expected quality of the heritage and cultural aspects are separated, as are the perceived cultural quality and the perceived heritage quality. The concept of moderating constructs is also added to the classic theory of the Structural Equation Model. Two hypotheses specifically analyze the modulating effect of the constructs perceived cultural quality and perceived heritage quality of the visiting tourist. This study is configured as follows: first the introduction, secondly there is the theoretical framework that explains the constructs of the theoretical model and structural equations, below explains the methodology used and the fourth section summarizes the results of the research. To finish the article we find the discussion and conclusions of the study, followed by a list of the references used in the article.

In recent decades Cultural tourism occupies a niche market with exponential growth in international tourism [ 20 ]. Visiting tourists have motivations perceptions and build their idea of satisfactory destination based on various factors. Cultural and heritage, as an important part of the demand for knowledge of the place visited, create the experience of the tourist's visit that allows to have the ability to make the decision to return, recommend and promote the destination as a prominent part of his historical heritage experience [ 21 ]. World heritage cities compete to offer recreational and cultural experiences that attract the greatest number of tourists with the desire to learn more about the history of the destination, enriching their knowledge and their life experience [ 22 ]. Ramires, Brandao, and Sousa describes cultural historical tourism as a social phenomenon [ 23 ]. Cultural heritage cities have to differentiate the difference from the competition, either including in their cultural offer local customs, centuries of history, art and traditions transmitted from generation to generation. Consequently, heritage tourism is important for the cities that have heritage sites [ 24 ].

In this context, the components that are related to satisfaction in the visit to the material heritage can cite how visitors seek new experiences, authentic contexts and unique or exceptional activities. Actions such as participation, hedonism, knowledge, nostalgia, history, novelty and local culture are the basic ingredients of a memorable and satisfying tourist experience [ 25 ], in the same line the authors [ 26 ] highlight how the experiences provided in the heritage present the same degree of satisfaction for visitors that aims to visit the material heritage itself as those who visit the heritage for the tourist experiences around it (theatrical visits, historical explanations). This, coupled with the fact that these activities are usually carried out on holidays and that holiday contribute to the satisfaction of life and its quality of life [ 27 , 28 , 29 ] in addition to adding congratulations and pleasurable effects to the activities carried out in the holiday period [ 30 ].

Studies have shown that loyalty to a visited place is directly related to the satisfaction and opinion of the visitor [ 31 , 32 ]. Studies which analyze loyalty in tourism have mainly looked into the attitude and intention of the visitor [ 32 ]. Academic studies can be grouped into two categories due to how loyalty is examined. The first group investigates repeat purchases, that is to say, tourists returning to a destination. The second, and far more interesting, group takes loyalty to mean recommending the tourist destination to other future tourists [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. This means that the tourist feels a connection with a destination and intends to visit it again in the future, while also recommending it to third parties [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. It should be pointed out that there are authors who warn that a tourist’s desire for new experiences may counteract the loyalty shown to the destination [ 40 ]. Studies which investigate loyalty to cultural heritage are mainly cognitive and use structural equations to predict intentions to return to or recommend a destination [ 41 , 42 ].

How comfortable the tourist felt at the destination and the monument visited is one of the most important factors when deciding to return to a destination, and therefore for visitor loyalty [ 35 , 38 , 43 ]. The perceived quality is usually considered one of the most important factors in research on tourist behavior [ 44 ]. Researchers define perceived quality as the overall accumulation of the tourist’s feelings about the experience at a destination [ 45 , 46 ]. Tourists value their experience as positive or negative for different attributes of the monument or destination [ 80 ]. Following on from this idea, the perceived value of a destination by a visitor is considered to be the most important indicator of their intentions to return to the chosen destination. It is possible that a customer does not buy a product or service because it is not considered value for money as the perceived value is not adequate for the price asked [ 47 ]. Studies by different authors explain that perceived value measures a tourist’s general assessment of their experience at a destination from the feelings they had there [ 48 , 49 ]. Cossío-Silva et al. obtain a realistic idea of tourist behavior by means of this variable and the results obtained can be useful for public institutions and organizations that offer tourism [ 50 ]. Customers who are aware of the value of a service or product sometimes expect particular benefits from it [ 51 ]. For this reason, perceived value is related to the usefulness of a purchase because the purchase has intrinsic benefits that satisfy the buyer’s needs [ 52 ]. A tourist who is interested in value will look for information and contemplate the idea fully before making a decision [ 53 ]. This means that perceived value affects the decisions of customers [ 54 ]. Perceived value can positively affect the loyalty of a customer [ 47 ] because customers who are aware of the value of a service make positive judgements about it, relating value to price and critically assessing all options.

This study analyses the relationship between the following variables, perceived heritage quality (PPQ) and the expected heritage quality (EPQ), perceived cultural heritage quality (PCHQ) and the expected cultural heritage quality (ECHQ), the perceived value of the visit as a whole (PV), satisfaction (SATISFAC) and loyalty (LOYALTY). In literature there are several studies including these variables, however few studies include modulating variables in the relationships between constructs [ 55 , 56 ]. The different authors who have used this type of theoretical model are shown in Table 1 .

The questionnaire with which the data was obtained was designed following various authors who have used constructs similar to those used in the theoretical model. The ACSI model has been used in multiple studies of satisfaction and loyalty in tourism in general and in heritage tourism [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].

The variables which were investigated in this study are satisfaction and loyalty. These have been studied on several occasions in different areas by several authors [ 57 , 58 ]. Both variables are positively related showing that the probability of a visitor at a heritage site revisiting or recommending the destination is high [ 59 , 60 ] if they are satisfied with the visit. These are judgments made by tourists because of their experience at the destination, and these affect the likelihood of the tourist revisiting the site or city and their willingness to recommend it to friends and family [ 2 , 61 ].

Managers of cultural material heritage should have previous information about the visitors who visit the site in order to plan actions which will improve the visitor expectations about the heritage and cultural experiences. These modify the behavior of the tourist because of the relationship between the perceived value and satisfaction. This study uses structural equations with all the above variables and, as it also includes a new approach using moderating relationships at heritage sites, it is of academic interest. This research increases the contribution to academic literature around heritage, loyalty and satisfaction by adding culture on the visit.

There are not many Royal and historical Citadels (with a past dated at least from the Muslim era) in Spain which are put in tourist value and are visitable. The uniqueness that were the quarters of the Catholic kings, with a historical character and that are touristic. In particular, there are four: Royal Citadel Sevilla, Royal Citadel Madrid, the Muslim Citadel of Valencia and the Royal Citadel Almunia (Palma de Mallorca). In academic matters, different studies have been carried out from the historical or archaeological perspective [ 62 , 63 ] but not from the tourist management. The Citadel of the Catholic King of Cordoba is the most culturally, and architecturally significant. It belongs to the historic center of Cordoba being an inscription by UNESCO and is dated from roman times, an optimal conservation and valued for the tourism, therefore it is the most historical and cultural.

The aim of this study is to add to the information available about cultural heritage tourism, contribute to the improvement of the management of visits to the unique heritage sites and provide useful knowledge for cultural heritage managers and tourism companies. The most concrete objective is to detect how tourist experiences in culture and heritage increase satisfaction and loyalty by increasing visits, repetition and their recommendation. This research studies the loyalty of visitors to the cultural heritage site and to the city, along with the Satisfaction and Expectations of the tourists who visit The Citadel of the Catholic King. Scientific literature which studies cultural heritage tourism by investigating heritage and culture, and the influence on Perceived Quality at different Citadel s, is scarce. While it is true that there are some studies in tourism with modeling variables, the study in particular cases of heritage tourism in Spain (as a second country in the ranking of international tourists) is novel. It contributes to academic knowledge about the cultural and heritage aspects of material heritage. This means that it makes a contribution to the current knowledge of cultural heritage and city management.

Therefore this article contributes in several ways: first it contributes to scientific literature in the analysis of the modulation of cultural and heritage quality perceived in the relationship between perceived value in general and satisfaction, considering ranges of low values and high values, secondly, provides the study of the characteristics of the cultural and heritage tourism through the visit to a cultural heritage and third place, provides conclusions to achieve or loyalty improve to tourists cultural and heritage.

Hypotheses development

The variables used to measure the loyalty of the visitors to the city of Cordoba were, (1) The expected cultural quality of The Citadel of the Catholic King, (2) The expected heritage quality of The Citadel of the Catholic King, (3) The perceived cultural quality of The Citadel of the Catholic King, (4) The perceived heritage quality of The Citadel of the Catholic King, (5) Comparing the expected quality and the perceived quality we can estimate the perceived value, (6) Satisfaction, as an emotional or cognitive response of the visiting tourist, and (7) The loyalty that tourists feel as a result of their attitude and contact with the experience in destiny.

The following (Fig. 1 ) hypotheses were formulated using the existing literature:

Research model

Hypothesis 1 (H1)

The expected patrimonial quality (EPQ) positively and significantly influences the perceived patrimonial quality (PPQ). EPQ influences PPQ.

Hypothesis 2 (H2)

The expected cultural heritage quality (ECHQ) positively and significantly influences the perceived cultural heritage quality (PCHQ). ECHQ influences PCHQ.

Hypothesis 3 (H3)

The perceived cultural heritage quality positively and significantly influences the perceived value as a whole. PCHQ influences PV.

Hypothesis 4 (H4)

The perceived patrimonial quality (PPQ) positively and significantly influences the perceived value (PV) as a whole. PPQ influences PV.

Hypothesis 5 (H5)

The perceived patrimonial quality (PPQ) positively and significantly influences the relationship between perceived value (PV) and satisfaction (SATISFAC). PPQ moderates PV which influences SATISFAC.

Hypothesis 6 (H6)

The perceived cultural heritage quality (PCHQ) positively and significantly influences the relationship between perceived value (PV) and satisfaction (SATISFAC). PCHQ moderates PV which influences SATISFAC.

Hypothesis 7 (H7)

The perceived value (PV) influences the satisfaction (SATISFAC) with it. PV influences SATISFAC.

Hypothesis 8 (H8)

The satisfaction of the visitor to the cultural heritage positively influences their loyalty to it. SATISFAC influences LOYALTY.

Methodology

Questionnaire and data collection.

This study was conducted in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. Córdoba, as with its four UNESCO world heritage sites, has an extraordinary cultural and heritage offer, full of history, traditions and centuries of Arab, Jewish and Christian knowledge [ 64 ]. The data was collected with a questionnaire, which was given to tourists visiting the Citadel of the Catholic King. To ensure the validity of the questionnaire, the questions were based on previous similar studies [ 65 ]. To ensure the validity of the questionnaire, the questions were based on previous similar studies [ 66 ].

The information was collected using a questionnaire together with a personal interview with each tourist after their visit to Citadel of the Catholic King. The questionnaire was prepared in November 2019. The validation of the survey and the construction of the questions is based on consolidated indicators from previous research [ 114 , 115 ]. Once the indicators had been obtained, a two-stage refining process was used. First, the indicators proposed by an investigator were analyzed, then the final survey was tested and verified by a manager at the Citadel of the Catholic King. This meant that the validity of the indicators in the constructs of the proposed research model were checked twice.

The questionnaire consisted of five sections, which were, (1) Questions about the expected heritage quality, perceived heritage quality and perceived value at The Citadel of the Catholic King, which includes the Arabic and Christian heritage of the Citadel, the conservation of the heritage site and the culture on display (2) Questions about the expected cultural quality, perceived cultural quality and perceived value at the The Citadel of the Catholic King, which includes the Arabic culture of the Citadel, the Christian culture of the Citadel and the information available about the history of the monument, etc. (3) Questions about visitor satisfaction with The Citadel of the Catholic King, (4) Questions about the loyalty of visitors to The Citadel of the Catholic King, and if they would recommend it to their family, friends, and workmates (5) Questions about the sociodemographic profile. Tourists were informed of the academic purposes and the anonymity of the study before completing the questionnaire. Verbal consent was requested before the tourist completed the questionnaire. The anonymity of the respondent was guaranteed at all times. The questions in the first four parts of the questionnaire used a seven-point Likert scale, where one was the answer totally disagree and seven totally agree. Participation in the study was voluntary. The questionnaire contained 68 items, the sample data was collected through a personal questionnaire at different times of the day. The questionnaire was only given to tourists who had visited the Citadel of the Catholic King and its cultural heritage. The sociodemographic profile and the details of the trip were completed with closed questions. There were 499 valid questionnaires in the sample, which had a 95% confidence level and a sampling error of 3.25%.

Research data was tabulated and analyzed using (PLS-SEM), using Warp-PLS 7.0 software (ScriptWarp Systems, P.O. Box 452428, Laredo, Texas, 78045, USA).

Many authors have used in their studies the latent variables seen in Table 1 .

This section describes the results obtained after applying the structural equation models. First, a summary of the sociodemographic profile is shown, then the reliability and validity of the proposed model, and finally, the contrast of the eight hypotheses raised in the theoretical model.

Table 2 shows the sociodemographic profile. 45.5% of those interviewed were women, compared to 53.3 men, and 1.2% did not indicate their sex. The questionnaires were answered mainly by young people between 30 and 39 years old (31.1%) who had studied at the university (39.7%).

The relationship between the observed and latent variables is shown in Table 3 . The structural coefficients of the normalized model have also been calculated.

Analysis of the individual reliability of the items

In order to validate the proposed model, the validity and reliability of the reflective and formative constructs were analyzed.

The formative construct (loyalty) follows the recommendations according to Sarstedt et al. Regarding the convergent validity of the constructs, all the articles proposed in the model (Table 4 ) had a value > 0.707 [ 99 ].

With an analysis of the reflective constructs we can study the individual reliability of the elements with an analysis of the simple correlations of each observed variable with respect to the construct to which it belongs. Following Carmines and Zeller [ 100 ] maintaining the values of 0.707 are necessary for a variable to be accepted as part of a construct. Fifty-six of the sixty-six reflective elements have values > 0.707, therefore we can affirm that it has good reliability for the elements that make up each first-order construct. Once individual reliability had been studied, the validity and reliability of the constructs were analyzed [ 101 ]. The analysis consisted of evaluating collinearity and verifying that the value of the inflation factor variance (VIF) is > five. The results did not show collinearity in the variables used for the loyalty construct.

Likewise, Table 5 shows the analysis of the reflective constructs (expected heritage quality, expected cultural quality, perceived heritage quality, perceived cultural quality, perceived value and satisfaction) [ 102 ].

After this analysis, we can affirm that the results indicated a quasi-optimal individual reliability, since all the load values were above the minimum required threshold of 0.505 or 0.6 according to Fornell and Larcker [ 103 ] and Barclay, Higgins and Thompson [ 101 ].

In fact, the analysis revealed that the loads were statistically significant at 99.99%. Based on the results of these calculations, the measurement model was considered valid and reliable, which meant that the structural model could then be analyzed.

Analysis of the reliability of the first-order constructs

In order to confirm whether the observed variables rigorously and adequately measure the latent variable they represent, following Nunnally and Bernstein [ 104 ], the Cronbach’s Alpha and composite reliability values are taken, checking if they are higher or equal to 0.7 (Table 7 ). As all the values exceed this lower limit, the reliability of the first order constructs and their ability to measure Loyalty are confirmed. In our analysis, all the constructs exceeded a value of 0.9 (expected heritage quality, perceived heritage quality, expected cultural quality, perceived cultural quality, perceived value and satisfaction) which means that there can be no doubt about the constructs capacity for measuring Loyalty (Table 6 ).

Convergent validity

To evaluate the convergent validity of a set of variables, that is, if it explains one construct and not another, the mean variance extracted (AVE) is used, it is the acceptance criterion most commonly used in research to evaluate this concept (Table 7 ). Fornell and Larcker [ 103 ] determined that the minimum value of the AVE must be > 0.5, which means that the construct shares more than half of its variance with its indicators, the rest of the variance is explained by the error measurement [ 68 ]. The mean variance extracted is applicable to latent variables with reflective indicators. The nine Loyalty variables share more than 69% of their variance. Based on the results obtained, we can confirm that the measurements made are valid.

Discriminatory validity

To verify the discriminatory validity, in line with Barclay, Higgins and Thompson the cross-factor loads of indicators of a latent variable are checked against the indicator loads of the other latent variables (Table 8 ). Factorial loads must have greater value with their own variable than with the others evaluated in the model.

In addition, Henseler et al., in conducting simulation studies, demonstrated that the lack of validity is better detected by means of the HTMT ratio (Table 9 ). If the monotrait-heteromethod correlations (correlations between indicators that measure the same construct) are greater than heterotrait-heteromethod (correlations between indicators that measure different constructs) there will be discriminatory validity. Thus, the HTMT key figure must be below one (Gold et al. consider a value of 0.90).

In this sense, you can also use a resampling or bootstrapping to test whether the HTMT key figure is significantly different from one using the confidence interval. According to the criteria set, the confidence intervals for the HTMT must be less than one, allowing this criterion to be validated (Table 10 ).

Hypothesis testing

To verify the goodness-of-fit of the proposed model, different parameters that address said goodness were calculated in Tables 11 and 12 .

Once all the constructs (reflective and formative) have been verified and validated as well as the goodness of the fit of the model, we can affirm that the results obtained are adequate and justify their validity and applicability.

Then the significance of the Path Coefficient of each hypothesis was calculated (Table 13 ). This showed that all the hypotheses are compatible (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7 and H8).

Hypotheses H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7 and H8 were all supported. This means that there is a positive and significant relationship between the expected and perceived cultural quality, and the expected and perceived heritage quality. There is also a positive and significant relationship between perceived cultural and heritage quality and the overall perceived value. The perceived cultural quality has a positive and significant moderating influence on the relationship between perceived value and satisfaction of the visiting tourist. There is a positive and significant relationship between the satisfaction and loyalty of visitors at the heritage site.

Figure 2 shows the values of the structural coefficients of the constructs. The limiting probability (p-value) of each one is used to validate the importance of the relationships between the constructs of the proposed model.

Path diagram of the proposed model with the p-value

Discussion and conclusion

The satisfaction of the tourists who visit cities with cultural heritage is the determining factor for loyalty to the city. The tourists and visitors who would repeat their visit also recommend and share their cultural and heritage experience with family, friends and co-workers. The public administration aims to preserve culture and heritage and maintain the sustainable value of the cultural heritage sites it manages. For private travel companies that have been trying for years to increase the number of visitors and the number of overnight stays, the loyalty of visiting tourists is the key to achieving their goal, which will also increase employment and the economy at the destination.

The analysis of the loyalty of tourists in the destination is important for obtaining excellence in tourist destinations. In this study, a model of structural equations was generated in which latent modulating variables of the main components that are part of satisfaction were implemented. The loyalty of the visiting tourist especially interested in the heritage and culture of the selected destination is analyzed. The results obtained in the study confirmed the hypotheses proposed in the theoretical model and can be used to improve the competitiveness of a destination.

The main variables that influenced the choice of the destination city were the cultural and heritage quality that I expected to find when choosing to visit a city declared a World Heritage Site and the recommendation and loyalty of other visitors to the destination [ 105 , 106 , 107 ].

At the end of the visit to a world heritage city, the tourist evaluates the gap between the cultural and heritage quality that he expects at the time he prepares the visit, collects information and creates a preconceived idea of the destination and the one he perceives once arrives at the destination, has an experience through the professionals, the accommodations, the monuments and the heritage city as a whole. All this set of sensations and perceptions converge in the satisfaction of the visiting tourist, it gave a feeling of satisfaction that made the visitors recommend it to others as a tourist destination.

Hypothesis 1

The expected cultural quality of the visitor positively and significantly influences the perceived cultural quality. In Fig. 3 , the sinusoidal behavior of this variable can be observed, and shows that for very high values of expected cultural quality there is no direct influence on perceived cultural quality. This result coincides with studies by [ 69 , 108 ]. Heritage managers must organize cultural activities at and around the heritage site. These activities increase the expected quality and therefore also the perceived quality. Visitors commented that they would like to see theatrical activities together with specialist guides at the destination to increase their satisfaction with the visit.

Hypothesis 1 ECHQ—PCHQ

Hypothesis 2

The expected heritage quality of the visitor positively and significantly influences the perceived heritage quality. In Fig. 4 the sinusoidal behavior means that for very high values of expected heritage quality there is no direct influence on the perceived heritage quality. This confirms studies by [ 71 , 92 ]. This result suggests that the digital information available online and the information on display at the destination must be increased. The tourists interviewed in the study claimed that there were not many references to this heritage site in terms of videos, photography, etc. and therefore they did not have any references for the expected quality of the heritage, which means that the perceived heritage quality was diminished.

Hypothesis 2 EPQ—PPQ

Hypothesis 3

The perceived heritage quality of the visitor positively and significantly influences the perceived value of the destination as a whole. Figure 5 shows how the perceived value changes as the perceived heritage quality increases. These results coincide with other studies about heritage [ 71 ]. This means that managers of heritage sites should think about improving the maintenance at the site.

Hypothesis 3 PPQ—PV

Hypothesis 4

The perceived cultural quality of the visitor positively and significantly influences the perceived value of the destination as a whole. Figure 6 shows the linear influence of perceived cultural quality on the total perceived value. This result coincides with the research of [ 109 ]. Heritage managers should be aware of the cultural quality of the heritage. A pile of stones means nothing without the culture that is attached to it. Therefore, heritage managers must make sure that the culture that is associated with a site is explained in the tourists visits.

Hypothesis 4 PCHQ—PV

Hypothesis 5 (Fig. 7 a)

The perceived cultural quality (PCHQ) of the visitor positively and significantly modulates the relationship between perceived value and satisfaction. Figure 7 b shows that for a range of low moderating variable values (perceived cultural quality-PCHQ), in the face of unit increases in perceived value (PV), satisfaction (SATISFAC) increases more than proportionately; for a range of perceived cultural quality high values (PCHQ), in the face of unit increases in perceived value (PV) visitor satisfaction increases less than proportionately. Therefore, for both low values and high values of perceived cultural quality (PCHQ) the satisfaction (SATISFAC) of the visiting tourist increases in the face of increases in perceived value (PV). This matches the results found by other authors [ 68 , 73 ]. This means that increasing the quality of the heritage helps to increase the overall satisfaction of the tourist with the experience lived.

a. Hypothesis 5 3D. PCHQ ⟶ (PV—SATISFAC). b Hypothesis 5 2D. PCHQ ⟶ (PV—SATISFAC)

Hypothesis 6 (Fig. 8 a)

The perceived heritage quality (PPQ) by the visitor positively and significantly moderates the relationship between perceived value (PV) and satisfaction (SATISFAC). Figure 8 b shows that in a range of low values of the modulating variable (perceived quality of equity-PPQ), in the face of unit increases in perceived value (PV) satisfaction grows more than proportionally. In a range of high values of the moderating variable, the relationship between perceived value and satisfaction is linear. This coincides with the results of studies by other authors [ 110 , 111 ]. That is, for both low values and high values of the modulating variable, satisfaction (SATISFAC) increases as the perceived value (PV) increases. We can say that in view of increases in the quality of the heritage, increasing the perceived value of the site increases the satisfaction of the tourist. Increasing the quality of perceived heritage helps to increase overall satisfaction with the tourist experience.

a. Hypothesis 6 3D. PPQ ⟶ (PV—SATISFAC). b Hypothesis 6 2D. PPQ ⟶ (PV—SATISFAC)

Hypothesis 7

The perceived value of the visit influences visitor satisfaction with the heritage site. Figure 9 shows that for values of − 1.8 and more the expected cultural quality has a linear and direct influence on perceived cultural quality and for very low values this behavior is reversed. This result has also been observed by other authors [ 105 , 112 , 113 ]. This result means that for the case being studied, and for cultural heritage in general, the visitor satisfaction can be increased by providing information about the history and the culture of the site. This can be done by having rooms dedicating to the cultures that inhabited the heritage site and explaining the significant milestones that took place there. A high entrance price without offering much cultural and heritage information is counterproductive for the perceived value.

Hypothesis 7 PV—SATISFAC

Hypothesis 8 was also confirmed, showing the direct influence that visitor satisfaction in a destination has on tourist loyalty. Figure 10 shows the sine behavior of this relationship. Only in very low extreme values and very high satisfaction, it has no effect on the loyalty of the visiting tourist. For non-extreme values of satisfaction, in the face of increased satisfaction, there are proportional increases in tourist loyalty. The results showed that satisfaction, quality and expectations are positive factors that influence the visitor's decision to return, and recommend a destination. This coincided with the results of other studies [ 108 , 114 ]. This study confirmed the relationship between the high satisfaction of the tourist with the heritage of Cordoba and the willingness of tourists to return and recommend the Citadel of the Catholic King. This means that tourists’ loyalty from cultural heritage to heritage is high, even though deficiencies that affected heritage expectations were also identified. These deficiencies included the lack of a website dedicated to the site and the lack of advertising. Deficiencies affecting tourist satisfaction were also found. These include the lack of specialized guides, the lack of theatrical visits, the lack of signs and indications and the lack of information on the culture and history of heritage. The latter affects loyalty. Although tourist satisfaction was generally acceptable, there were too many irregularities to achieve tourist loyalty.

Hypothesis 8 SATISFAC—LOYALTY

This study outlines a reachable goal for the managers of the heritage in Cordoba so that the experience of visitors to the city can be maximized. This means that having visitors who are satisfied with their visit becomes one of the main reasons to exhibit the heritage. The results of this study agree with those found in previous studies [ 59 , 115 ] which indicate that satisfaction has a positive influence on loyalty to the destination, and encourages the tourist to return to the destination in the future and to recommend it to family and friends. This study states the most important factors to achieve loyalty of heritage tourists in a city which has been home to various cultures, and where there are different heritage sites that show the cultures that have inhabited the city.

This study identifies various factors which visitors to the city consider important when visiting a heritage site. The conservation and cleanliness of the heritage site were valued highly, as was the fact that the heritage sites are inside, or close to, the historical city center. In this way, Cordoba unites and links the tourist to the destination, which positively influences loyalty to the city. The brand created by this set of heritage sites, together with the perceived quality of the visit are factors which can be used to attract tourists who want to experience local culture by visiting these sites [ 95 ].

As general conclusions regarding the theoretical implications this research demonstrates, supports and verifies how variables in tourism affect each other. Research, search and study of new relationships and new variables becomes essential. Therefore, we must continue to study the different variables and their relationships in favor of the loyalty of the tourist in the destination. The practical implications for managers of this type of heritage is the importance of focusing on those who visit the heritage: that is, you have to think about all the tourist flows, motivations, moods, but always with the aim of giving a complete tourist experience and the highest quality for those who visit the heritage.

The limitations of this study were due to the sample which was used. The data was obtained from heritage tourists at The Citadel of the Catholic King, which means that the collected data is only valid for one type of tourist at one destination. It would be desirable to study elsewhere where kings stayed overnight and placed their base outside the capital. Another limitation is to perform the study at a time, being convenient to do it temporarily to see the evolution. Similarly, measuring loyalty as the intention of future behavior is a limitation of this study. Finally, loyalty does not always mean accurate behavior, the tourist can have amazing behavior [ 116 ].

For future lines of research, this study could be carried out in other destinations in Spain such as Madrid or Ibiza which have Alcazares of Catholic kings placed in tourist value, and the results obtained in this work could be compared with those of other destinations. Another possible line of research could be to perform this same study, but aimed at international tourists, in order to examine their motivations and thus establish a segmentation of the touristic offerings of the community according to the type of tourist, national or international.

On the other hand, this study does not deepen and concrete in the tourist experiences around the culture and heritage of a historical heritage asset and how each one affects the value of loyalty and recommendation, therefore, is a future line of research.

Availability of data and materials

Availability of data and materials in the editorial manager.

Kim H, et al. Assessing the economic values of World Heritage Sites and the effects of perceived authenticity on their values. Int J Tour Res. 2018;20(1):126–36.

Article Google Scholar

Zhang H, et al. Destination image and tourist loyalty: a meta-analysis. Tour Manage. 2014;40:213–23.

Montejo Córdoba AJ. La rauda del Alcázar de Córdoba . 2006.

Redondo JFM, et al. Investigaciones arqueológicas en la Muralla de la Huerta del Alcázar (Córdoba). Anejos de anales de arqueología cordobesa. 2009;2:183–230.

Google Scholar

Arjona Fuentes J. Potencialidad De Los Eventos De Religiosidad Popular Como Complemento a La Oferta De Turismo Cultural En La Ciudad De Córdoba (Appeal of Popular Religious Events as a Complement to Cultural Tourist Attractions in the City of Cordova) . Available at SSRN 2595585, 2014.

Fornell C, et al. The American customer satisfaction index: nature, purpose, and findings. J Mark. 1996;60(4):7–18.

Bezerra GC, Gomes CF. Determinants of passenger loyalty in multi-airport regions: implications for tourism destination. Tourism Manage Perspect. 2019;31:145–58.

Huang S, Weiler B, Assaker G. Effects of interpretive guiding outcomes on tourist satisfaction and behavioral intention. J Travel Res. 2015;54(3):344–58.

Jimber del Río JA, et al. Loyalty in heritage tourism: the case of Córdoba and its four world heritage sites. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(23):8950.

Cho M-H. A study of authenticity in traditional Korean folk villages. Int J Hosp Tour Adm. 2012;13(2):145–71.

de Sousa EM, et al. Innovation in explaining loyalty: extension of the ACSI model. Rev Admin Em Dialog. 2021;23(1):10–25.

Gao B, et al. When online reviews meet ACSI: how ACSI moderates the effects of online reviews on hotel revenue. J Travel Tour Mark. 2020;37:396–408.

Ali SS, Kaur R. An analysis of satisfaction level of 3PL service users with the help of ACSI. Benchmarking Int J. 2018;25(1):24–46.

Kim W-H. The impact of online reviews on customer satisfaction: an application of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Int J Tour Manage Sci. 2017;32(5):65–78.

Dani V. Measuring customer satisfaction for F&B chains in Pune using ACSI model . In: International Conference on Trade, Markets and Sustainability (Ictms-2013), 2014;133:465–472.

Sun K-A, Kim D-Y. Does customer satisfaction increase firm performance? An application of American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Int J Hosp Manage. 2013;35:68–77.

Ivanov V, Joseph K, Wintoki MB. Disentangling the market value of customer satisfaction: evidence from market reaction to the unanticipated component of ACSI announcements. Int J Res Mark. 2013;30(2):168–78.

Park T, Jaegal D. Understanding the satisfaction process of festival visitors through the revised ACSI model: the Andong Mask Dance Festival. J Tour Sci. 2005;28(4):87–105.

Ali SS, Kaur R. An analysis of satisfaction level of 3PL service users with the help of ACSI. Benchmarking Int J. 2018;25:24–46.

Altunel MC, Erkurt B. Cultural tourism in Istanbul: the mediation effect of tourist experience and satisfaction on the relationship between involvement and recommendation intention. J Destin Mark Manag. 2015;4(4):213–21.

Craik J. The culture of tourism. In: Touring cultures. Routledge; 2002. p. 123–46.

Poria Y, Butler R, Airey D. Links between tourists, heritage, and reasons for visiting heritage sites. J Travel Res. 2004;43(1):19–28.

Ramires A, Brandao F, Sousa AC. Motivation-based cluster analysis of international tourists visiting a World Heritage City: the case of Porto, Portugal. J Destin Mark Manag. 2018;8:49–60.

Burns L, Eaddy M, Moore C, Speno L, McRae H. Heritage tourism handbook: a how-to guide for Georgia. Atlanta, GA, USA: Georgia Department of Natural Resources; 2010.

Crespi-Vallbona M. Satisfying experiences: guided tours at cultural heritage sites. J Herit Tour. 2021;16(2):201–17.

Jensen O, Li Y, Uysal M. Visitors’ satisfaction at managed tourist attractions in Northern Norway: do on-site factors matter? Tour Manage. 2017;63:277–86.

Dolnicar S, Yanamandram V, Cliff K. The contribution of vacations to quality of life. Ann Tour Res. 2012;39(1):59–83.

Su MM, Wall G, Xu K. Heritage tourism and livelihood sustainability of a resettled rural community: mount Sanqingshan World Heritage Site, China. J Sustain Tour. 2016;24(5):735–57.

McCabe S, Johnson S. The happiness factor in tourism: subjective well-being and social tourism. Ann Tour Res. 2013;41:42–65.

Gilbert D, Abdullah J. Holidaytaking and the sense of well-being. Ann Tour Res. 2004;31(1):103–21.

Paul J, Modi A, Patel J. Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action. J Retail Consum Serv. 2016;29:123–34.

Buhalis D, López EP, Martinez-Gonzalez JA. Influence of young consumers’ external and internal variables on their e-loyalty to tourism sites. J Destin Mark Manag. 2020;15:100409.

Castro CB, Armario EM, Ruiz DM. The influence of market heterogeneity on the relationship between a destination’s image and tourists’ future behaviour. Tour Manage. 2007;28(1):175–87.

Chen C-F, Tsai D. How destination image and evaluative factors affect behavioral intentions? Tour Manage. 2007;28:1115–22.

Sato S, et al. Adventure tourism motivation and destination loyalty: a comparison of decision and non-decision makers. J Destin Mark Manag. 2018;8:74–81.

Kozak M. Repeaters’ behavior at two distinct destinations. Ann Tour Res. 2001;28(3):784–807.

Kozak M, Rimmington M. Tourist satisfaction with Mallorca, Spain, as an off-season holiday destination. J Travel Res. 2000;38:260–9.

Yoon Y, Uysal M. An examination of the effects of motivation and satisfaction on destination loyalty: a structural model. Tour Manage. 2005;26:45–56.

Chi CG-Q, Qu H. Examining the structural relationships of destination image, tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty: an integrated approach. Tour Manage. 2008;29:624–36.

Hallak R, Assaker G, El-Haddad R. Re-examining the relationships among perceived quality, value, satisfaction, and destination loyalty: a higher-order structural model. J Vacat Mark. 2018;24:118–35.

Kang J-W, Lee H, Namkung Y. The impact of restaurant patrons’ flow experience on SNS satisfaction and offline purchase intentions. Int J Contemp Hosp Manag. 2018;30:797–816.

Yu T-W, Chen T-J. Online travel insurance purchase intention: a transaction cost perspective. J Travel Tour Mark. 2018;35:1175–86.

Yuksel A, Yuksel F, Bilim Y. Destination attachment: effects on customer satisfaction and cognitive, affective and conative loyalty. Tour Manage. 2010;31:274–84.

Wu H-C, Li T. A study of experiential quality, perceived value, heritage image, experiential satisfaction, and behavioral intentions for heritage tourists. J Hospital Tour Res. 2017;41(8):904–44.

Jin N, Lee S, Lee H. The effect of experience quality on perceived value, satisfaction, image and behavioral intention of water park patrons: new versus repeat visitors. Int J Tour Res. 2015;17:82–95.

Loureiro SMC, González FJM. The importance of quality, satisfaction, trust, and image in relation to rural tourist loyalty. J Travel Tour Mark. 2008;25:117–36.

Lichtenstein DR, Netemeyer RG, Burton S. Distinguishing coupon proneness from value consciousness: an acquisition-transaction utility theory perspective. J Mark. 1990;54:54–67.

Chang L-L, Backman KF, Huang YC. Creative tourism: a preliminary examination of creative tourists’ motivation, experience, perceived value and revisit intention. Int J Cult Tour Hospital Res. 2014;8:401–19.

Anderson EW, Sullivan MW. The antecedents and consequences of customer satisfaction for firms. Mark Sci. 1993;12:125–43.

Cossío-Silva F-J, Revilla-Camacho M-Á, Vega-Vázquez M. The tourist loyalty index: a new indicator for measuring tourist destination loyalty? J Innov Knowl. 2019;4:71–7.

Bao YQ. Discerning store brand users from value consciousness consumers: the role of prestige. Adv Consum Res Vol Xxxi. 2004;31:707–12.

Chen C-F, Chou S-H. Antecedents and consequences of perceived coolness for Generation Y in the context of creative tourism—a case study of the Pier 2 Art Center in Taiwan. Tour Manage. 2019;72:121–9.

Pillai KG, Kumar V. Differential effects of value consciousness and coupon proneness on consumers’ persuasion knowledge of pricing tactics. J Retail. 2012;88(1):20–33.

Delgado-Ballester E, Hernandez-Espallardo M, Rodriguez-Orejuela A. Store image influences in consumers’ perceptions of store brands: the moderating role of value consciousness. Eur J Mark. 2014;48(9–10):1850–69.

Parasuraman A, Zeithaml VA, Berry LL. A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research. J Mark. 1985;49(4):41–50.

Chang S. Experience economy in hospitality and tourism: gain and loss values for service and experience. Tour Manage. 2018;64:55–63.

Wong IA, Ji M, Liu MT. The effect of event supportive service environment and authenticity in the quality-value-satisfaction framework. J Hospital Tour Res. 2018;42(4):563–86.

Kuo N-T, et al. The asymmetric effect of tour guide service quality on tourist satisfaction. J Qual Assur Hosp Tour. 2018;19(4):521–42.

Alrawadieh Z, Alrawadieh Z, Kozak M. Exploring the impact of tourist harassment on destination image, tourist expenditure, and destination loyalty. Tour Manage. 2019;73:13–20.

Azhar ME, Prayogi MA, Sari M. The role of marketing mix and service quality on tourist satisfaction and loyalty at samosir. Rev Hospital. 2018;15:124–37.

Cronin Jr JJ, Brady MK, Hult GTM. Assessing the effects of quality, value, and customer satisfaction on consumer behavioral intentions in service environments. J Retail. 2000;76(2):193–218.

Cabeza Méndez JM. El Real Alcázar de Sevilla. Zabaglia. 2011;8:10–3.

Jiménez Castillo P, Navarro Palazón J, Alcázares. alcazabas y almunias durante el periodo taifa (siglo XI): los espacios palatinos al servicio de unos poderes en formación . 2016.

Csapo J. The role and importance of cultural tourism in modern tourism industry. In: Strategies for tourism industry-micro and macro perspectives. 2012;201–232.

Farooq MS, et al. Impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in Malaysia airlines: a PLS-SEM approach. J Air Transp Manag. 2018;67:169–80.

Ozdemir B, Çizel B, Bato CR. Satisfaction with all-inclusive tourism resorts: the effects of satisfaction with destination and destination loyalty. Int J Hospital Tour Admin. 2012;13(2):109–30.

Nguyen THH, Cheung C. Chinese heritage tourists to heritage sites: what are the effects of heritage motivation and perceived authenticity on satisfaction? Asia Pacific J Tour Res. 2016;21(11):1155–68.

Kempiak J, et al. The heritage tourist: an understanding of the visitor experience at heritage attractions. Int J Herit Stud. 2017;23(4):375–92.

Ganzaroli A, De Noni I, van Baalen P. Vicious advice: analyzing the impact of TripAdvisor on the quality of restaurants as part of the cultural heritage of Venice. Tour Manage. 2017;61:501–10.

Alazaizeh MM, et al. Giving voice to heritage tourists: indicators of quality for a sustainable heritage experience at Petra, Jordan. J Tour Cult Chang. 2019;17(3):269–84.

Thanou A, Tsiropoulou EE, Papavassiliou S. Quality of experience under a prospect theoretic perspective: a cultural heritage space use case. IEEE Trans Comput Soc Syst. 2019;6(1):135–48.

Mansor N, et al. Mosque tourism certification in Waqf management: a model by Ukhwah Samara. Soc Sci Human. 2015;23:291–304.

Donthu N, Yoo B. Cultural influences on service quality expectations. J Serv Res. 1998;1(2):178–86.

Tata J, Prasad S. Cultural and structural constraints on total quality management implementation. Total Qual Manag. 1998;9(8):703–10.

Gurung A, Prater E. A research framework for the impact of cultural differences on IT outsourcing. In: Global sourcing of services: strategies, issues and challenges. World Scientific; 2017. p. 49–82.

Chapter Google Scholar

Chen C-F, Chen F-S. Experience quality, perceived value, satisfaction and behavioral intentions for heritage tourists. Tour Manage. 2010;31(1):29–35.

Jeon MM, Kang MM, Desmarais E. Residents’ perceived quality of life in a cultural-heritage tourism destination. Appl Res Qual Life. 2016;11(1):105–23.

Lee S, et al. Heritage tourism in Singapore Chinatown: a perceived value approach to authenticity and satisfaction. J Travel Tour Mark. 2016;33(7):981–98.

Agyeiwaah E, et al. Understanding culinary tourist motivation, experience, satisfaction, and loyalty using a structural approach. J Travel Tour Mark. 2019;36(3):295–313.

Thi K, et al. The effects of service quality on international tourist satisfaction and loyalty: insight from Vietnam. Int J Data Netw Sci. 2020;4(2):179–86.

Marshall PA. Cultural influences on perceived quality of life. In: Seminars in oncology nursing. Elsevier; 1990.

Pouso S, Uyarra MC, Borja Á. The recovery of estuarine quality and the perceived increase of cultural ecosystem services by beach users: a case study from northern Spain. J Environ Manage. 2018;212:450–61.

Mohseni S, et al. Attracting tourists to travel companies’ websites: the structural relationship between website brand, personal value, shopping experience, perceived risk and purchase intention. Curr Issue Tour. 2018;21(6):616–45.

Nilson TH. Value-added marketing: marketing management for superior results. McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1992.

Pandža Bajs I. Tourist perceived value, relationship to satisfaction, and behavioral intentions: the example of the Croatian tourist destination Dubrovnik. J Travel Res. 2015;54(1):122–34.

Tom Dieck MC, Jung TH. Value of augmented reality at cultural heritage sites: a stakeholder approach. J Destinat Market Manag. 2017;6(2):110–7.

Gallarza MG, Maubisson L, Rivière A. Replicating consumer value scales: a comparative study of EVS and PERVAL at a cultural heritage site. J Bus Res. 2020;126:614–23.

Qi L, et al. Time-aware distributed service recommendation with privacy-preservation. Inf Sci. 2019;480:354–64.

Cheng BL, et al. Service recovery, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty: evidence from Malaysia’s hotel industry. Int J Qual Serv Sci. 2019;11:187–203.

Hosany S, Prayag G. Patterns of tourists’ emotional responses, satisfaction, and intention to recommend. J Bus Res. 2013;66(6):730–7.

Domínguez-Quintero AM, González-Rodríguez MR, Paddison B. The mediating role of experience quality on authenticity and satisfaction in the context of cultural-heritage tourism. Curr Issue Tour. 2020;23(2):248–60.

Veasna S, Wu W-Y, Huang C-H. The impact of destination source credibility on destination satisfaction: the mediating effects of destination attachment and destination image. Tour Manage. 2013;36:511–26.

Assaker G, Vinzi VE, O’Connor P. Examining the effect of novelty seeking, satisfaction, and destination image on tourists’ return pattern: a two factor, non-linear latent growth model. Tour Manage. 2011;32(4):890–901.

San Martín H, Herrero A, García de los Salmones MdM. An integrative model of destination brand equity and tourist satisfaction. Curr Issues Tour. 2019;22(16):1992–2013.

Gómez-Zapata JD, Espinal-Monsalve NE, Herrero-Prieto LC. Economic valuation of museums as public club goods: why build loyalty in cultural heritage consumption? J Cult Herit. 2018;30:190–8.

Verma A, Rajendran G. The effect of historical nostalgia on tourists’ destination loyalty intention: an empirical study of the world cultural heritage site—Mahabalipuram, India. Asia Pacific J Tour Res. 2017;22(9):977–90.

Fu X. Existential authenticity and destination loyalty: evidence from heritage tourists. J Destin Mark Manag. 2019;12:84–94.

Henseler J, Chin WW. A comparison of approaches for the analysis of interaction effects between latent variables using partial least squares path modeling. Struct Equ Model. 2010;17(1):82–109.

Carmines EG, Zeller RA. Reliability and validity assessment, vol. 17. USA: Sage publications; 1979.

Book Google Scholar

Barclay D, Higgins C, Thompson R. The partial least squares (PLS) approach to casual modeling: personal computer adoption ans use as an Illustration. 1995.

Hair JF, Ringle CM, Sarstedt M. Partial least squares: the better approach to structural equation modeling? Long Range Plan. 2012;45(5–6):312–9.

Fornell C, Larcker DF. Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: algebra and statistics. USA: SAGE Publications; 1981.

Nunnally JC, Bernstein IH. Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1978.

Su L, Hsu MK, Swanson S. The effect of tourist relationship perception on destination loyalty at a world heritage site in China: the mediating role of overall destination satisfaction and trust. J Hospital Tour Res. 2017;41(2):180–210.

Santa-Cruz FG, López-Guzmán T. Culture, tourism and world heritage sites. Tour Manag Perspect. 2017;24:111–6.

Cossío-Silva F-J, Revilla-Camacho M-Á, Vega-Vázquez M. The tourist loyalty index: a new indicator for measuring tourist destination loyalty? J Innov Knowl. 2019;4(2):71–7.

Chen H, Rahman I. Cultural tourism: an analysis of engagement, cultural contact, memorable tourism experience and destination loyalty. Tour Manag Perspect. 2018;26:153–63.

Oriade A, Schofield P. An examination of the role of service quality and perceived value in visitor attraction experience. J Destin Mark Manag. 2019;11:1–9.

Sánchez-Sánchez MD, De-Pablos-Heredero C, Montes-Botella JL. A behaviour model for cultural tourism: loyalty to destination. Econ Res Ekonomska Istraživanja, 2020;1–18.

Elmoussaoui M. The phenomenological significance of dwelling in architecture. The case of Eastern Beka’a Valley-Lebanon. 2020.

Liu Y, et al. Understanding the relationship between food experiential quality and customer dining satisfaction: a perspective on negative bias. Int J Hosp Manag. 2020;87:102381.

Alnawas I, Hemsley-Brown J. Examining the key dimensions of customer experience quality in the hotel industry. J Hosp Market Manag. 2019;28(7):833–61.

Prayag G, et al. Understanding the relationships between tourists’ emotional experiences, perceived overall image, satisfaction, and intention to recommend. J Travel Res. 2017;56:41–54.

Su Y, Teng W. Contemplating museums’ service failure: extracting the service quality dimensions of museums from negative on-line reviews. Tour Manage. 2018;69:214–22.

Bodet G. Loyalty in sport participation services: an examination of the mediating role of psychological commitment. J Sport Manag. 2012;26(1):30–42.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

This research received no external funding.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Policy, Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences, Universidad de Córdoba, Plaza de Puerta Nueva S/N, 14002, Cordoba, Spain

Ricardo David Hernández-Rojas & Juan Antonio Jimber del Río

Management, International Relations, University of Science and Technology, Fujairah, UAE

Alberto Ibáñez Fernández

Department of Research, Ecotec University, Samborondón-Ecuador and Espiritu Santo University, Samborondón, Ecuador

Arnaldo Vergara-Romero

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization, AV-R and RDH-R; methodology, JAJR and AI-F; software, JAJR and RDH-R; validation JAJR; RDH-R and AV-R; formal analysis, JAJR; RDH-R; AI-F; investigation, AV-R and RDH-R; resources, AV-R and RDH-R; data curation, RH-R and AI-F; writing—original draft preparation, AV-R; writing—review and editing, AV-R, AI-F; visualization, AV-R; supervision, JAJR; project administration, N/A; funding acquisition, N/A.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Antonio Jimber del Río .

Ethics declarations

Competing interests.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Hernández-Rojas, R.D., del Río, J.A.J., Fernández, A.I. et al. The cultural and heritage tourist, SEM analysis: the case of The Citadel of the Catholic King. Herit Sci 9 , 52 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00525-0

Download citation

Received : 25 February 2021

Accepted : 23 April 2021

Published : 06 May 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00525-0

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Heritage tourism
Cultural heritage
Structual ecuation model

To read this content please select one of the options below:

Please note you do not have access to teaching notes, tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text narrative analysis.

International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research

ISSN : 1750-6182

Article publication date: 22 March 2013

The purpose of this paper is to develop a questionnaire on tourist experience expectations, and to conduct a qualitative study to analyze the factors and related texts of the questionnaire.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis on travel diaries written by museum tourists was conducted to develop a questionnaire of tourist experience expectations (TEE). The survey results were analyzed by factor analysis.

The tourism experience expectations include five factors: experience expectations of easiness and fun; cultural entertainment; personal identification; historical reminiscences; and escapism. In addition to these factors, this study reorganized the travel diaries to extract representative texts for narrative analysis, in order to develop the situational factors of tourist experiences.

Research limitations/implications

This study only investigated museum tourists in Taiwan, and thus the scope for wider application of the results is limited.

Practical implications

The study findings revealed that during a trip, appropriate situational factors – including satisfying tourists' curiosity and intimate locations or events that trigger tourists' active participation – resulted in pleasant experiences for the tourists and could possibly lead to future experience expectations.

Originality/value

The paper explores museum tourists' experience expectations in Taiwan.

Tourism management
Tourism research
Tourist experience expectation
Museum tourists
Content analysis
Narrative analysis

Sheng, C. and Chen, M. (2013), "Tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text narrative analysis", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research , Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506181311301390

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

All feedback is valuable.

Please share your general feedback

Report an issue or find answers to frequently asked questions

Contact Customer Support

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

We're Hiring!
Help Center

Tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text narrative analysis

Related Papers

Patrick Edlinger

This research analysed the relationship between photographing and tourist experience, and evaluated its implications on the visitors’ post-visit behavioural intentions. Using data collected from international first-time Caucasian visitors to The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, the study performed in the first stage CFA of Hosany and Gilbert’s (2010) Destination Emotional Scale to confirm the validity of the 15-dimensional construct. One-way ANOVA and SEM were then used to determine the factors leading to emotional experience and to assess the effects of photographing on various aspects of the visitors’ encounter with the cultural attraction. Drawing on a survey with 804 valid returns, study findings reveal that photographing tends to influence the visitors’ emotional experience and to negatively affect their perception towards a place. SEM results further confirmed that photographing does not only influence the individual model constructs examined in this study, but also to a certain extent their relationship to each other.

bournemouth.ac.uk

Dr Salem Harahsheh

elisabeth kastenholz , Tourism & Management Studies , Joana Lima

Rural areas have attracted increasing interest as a space for leisure and tourism, as a result of recent trends in tourism demand, especially from urban populations. However, although the literature on the tourist experience has increased significantly in the past decades, the tourist experience of visiting rural areas remains a relatively understudied field of research. In this context, this paper aims to analyse the nature of the tourist experience in a rural context, focusing on the tourists’ point of view. Concretely, in-depth interviews were conducted with 44 individuals who had visited rural areas, aiming at a deeper understanding of the three phases of the tourist experience: (i) pre (planning, expectations and motivations); (ii) during (events occurred during the visit); and (iii) after the experience (satisfaction, memories and evaluation of the visit). The results show that the countryside is imagined as a space opposed to the negative aspects of the urban space, ideal for resting, recovering forces and living as a family, often associated with the possibility of getting to know the “ancient” and “traditions”. However, results also show that rural tourism destinations should seek alternatives to create a dynamic that attracts/ satisfies tourists without damaging their natural, cultural and social resources.

Alexandra Matos Pereira

Tourist guides as front-line professionals, information-givers, and interpreters act as destination representatives and “ambassadors” in the eyes of tourists (Rabotić, 2010). This paper, using an empirical analysis of coach tour foreign tourists travelling in Portugal, intends to determine how tourist destination image (TDI) is modified and enhanced through the influence of tourist guide performance and tourist satisfaction with the guided tour. A survey questionnaire of first-time package tour travellers to Portugal revealed a positive change in attitude to image components such as monuments/museums, tourist information, landscape, and gastronomy and wines, confirming that the tourist guide’s attributes in communication skills and scholar knowledge (history, art, and popular culture) together with highly rated tourist satisfaction with the guided tour concerning the professional competence of a bus driver were critical in enhancing Portugal destination image. Marketing implications for senior coach tour in Portugal are drawn.

Timothy Jachna , Wantanee Suntikul

Establishes conceptual link between models of co-creation and place attachment. Place identity (personal relation with site) correlates more strongly with experience value. Sites rated higher in terms of place dependence (perceived site attributes). Demonstrates connection between place identity and specific site behavior. Implications for expansion of co-creation research beyond service-dominated logic. a b s t r a c t Co-creation in tourism has investigated a range of ways in which consumers are becoming increasingly involved in defining and creating services and products. These activities, however, constitute only a small portion of the full range of tourism experiences. The current concentration on co-creation of (mostly service-dominated) tourism products needs to be expanded to accommodate elements such as the physical environment and local social and cultural milieus of tourism. This article appropriates concepts and models from the discourse of place attachment to demonstrate an approach to extending the co-creation concept to include experiences of the physical tourism site, not merely as the setting of a service relation, but as a fundamental dimension of the tourism experience. This approach is tested and demonstrated based on an analysis and discussion of the findings of a survey study of tourists to the Historic Center of Macao.

Lusine Margaryan

Vahid Ghasemi

Montse Crespi Vallbona , Melinda Jászberényi

Evgenia Amey

Literary tourism is a sub-sector of cultural tourism and relates to travelling to places connected to fictional texts and the authors of those texts. Although it is an old form of tourism and lies at the foundation of classic European Grand Tour, it has not received much academic attention until recently and a number of qualitative studies on literary tourist experiences is still limited. The general aim of this study is to address the lack of knowledge on literary tourist experiences by analysing the role of authenticity in literary tourist experience through the analysis of literary tourists‟ accounts of their literary trips. The scientific objective is to explore the connection between the imagination and authenticity at literary tourism sites. An ongoing discourse on authenticity in tourism saw the emergence of different views and resulted in proposition of three types of authenticity, namely objective, constructive and existential authenticity; the first two types are viewed as object-related, while existential authenticity is subject (or tourist)-related and is based on personal experience. The research tasks are, firstly, to explore how respondents prescribe meanings to their literary tourist experiences; secondly, to discover how authenticity appears in narratives of literary tourist experiences; and, thirdly, to find out how respondents construct their narratives of literary tourist experiences. Collected data includes seven narratives, written by respondents on their literary tourist experiences; it also includes a travel journal, jointly produced by members of after-school study group from Ironville about their literary trips, and group supervisor‟s notes on the effects of literary tourism on students. Apart from content analysis, structural analysis of narrative was conducted using Greimas‟s actantial model. The research results support the assumption that both object-related (objective and constructive) and subject-related (existential) authenticity are important in literary tourist experience, and that object-related authenticity can facilitate subject-related authenticity. The study confirms that authenticity is perceived and consumed differently by individual literary tourists based on their motivations, expectations and dedication to writers and literary works. Analysis of narratives using Greimas‟s actantial model demonstrates that respondents‟ narratives follow similar structure and are centred on literary tourists‟ quest for authenticity. The results of the study can be utilized in management of literary destinations. Future research on literary tourist experiences could concentrate for instance on the specifics of tourists' age and gender, literary touristic "communitas" and literary tourism as family activity.

Carmela Bosangit

Travel blogs are an under-utilised resource for researchers of tourism experiences. They can provide rich insights on how tourists express the transformational effects of their experiences for the self. This study of travel blogs by nineteen British bloggers reveals how elements of the narrative relating to self-reflection and emotions are central to the process of transforming their travel experiences into personally meaningful experiences. Bloggers implicitly and explicitly express how travel contributes to self-identity, signalling self-development. The study contributes to knowledge about the lasting impact of long term travel on people, adding meaning symbolic of an evolving self.

RELATED PAPERS

Tourism Engagement: Co-creating Well-being Proceedings of the 6th Advances in Tourism Marketing Conference

Seda SÖKMEN

Orhan Akova

Tiantian zheng

ENLIGHTENING TOURISM. A PATHMAKING JOURNAL (ET)

Alfonso Vargas-Sánchez

Clinton David van der Merwe

Ana Cláudia Campos , Julio Mendes , Noel Scott

Prof. Dr. Anita Zehrer

Ane Andersen

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

Dora Agapito

Journal of Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, Vol. II, Issue 4

Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (JTSW)

Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert

Björk, P. & H. Kauppinen-Räisänen. 2014 Culinary-gastronomic tourism – a search for local food experiences. Nutrition and Food Science. 44(4).

Hannele Kauppinen-Räisänen

Marek Nowacki

Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

Faizal Ayob

Tingzhen Chen

Journal of Tourism Consumption and Practice

greg richards , Daniela Jelinčić , Eliana Messineo

Liang Fedryan

Exploring Creative Tourism, Journal of Tourism Consumption and Practice

Lénia Marques , greg richards , Eliana Messineo

Julie Rausenberger

sowkar shariff

Cynthia Gambiza

Ben Iaquinto

Elvina Daujotaite

International Journal of Hospitality Management

Fevzi Okumus

Silvia Gravili

Current Issues in Tourism

Brian E M King

Ana Cláudia Campos , Noel Scott , Julio Mendes

Kumbirai Mirimi

Tourism Today Tourism Today

Stanislav Ivanov

MARIOS SOTERIADES or SOTIRIADIS

DR. ALAA ABUKHALIFEH

Walailak Noypayak

Ana Cláudia Campos

Cultural and Tourism Innovation in the Digital Era; Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics

Dr Elli Vazou

greg richards

Jesus Garcia-Laborda

Russian regions

Chelyabinsk oblast
Khanty-Mansi okrug
Kurgan oblast
Sverdlovsk oblast
Tyumen oblast
Yamalo-Nenets okrug
Map of Russia
All cities and regions
Blog about Russia
News from Russia
How to get a visa
Flights to Russia
Russian hotels
Renting apartments
Russian currency
FIFA World Cup 2018
Submit an article
Flowers to Russia
Ask our Expert

Tyumen Oblast, Russia

The capital city of Tyumen oblast: Tyumen .

Tyumen Oblast - Overview

Tyumen Oblast is a federal subject of Russia stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the boundary with Kazakhstan, part of the Ural Federal District. Tyumen is the capital city of the region.

The population of Tyumen Oblast without autonomous okrugs is about 1,552,000 (2022), the area without autonomous okrugs - 160,122 sq. km.

Tyumen oblast flag

Tyumen oblast coat of arms.

Tyumen oblast map, Russia

Tyumen oblast latest news and posts from our blog:.

5 May, 2024 / Tobolsk - One of the Most Beautiful Cities in Siberia .

11 December, 2018 / Tobolsk - the view from above .

5 November, 2018 / Tyumen - the First Russian City in Siberia .

21 June, 2018 / Photos of Tobolsk in 1912 and 2018 .

13 May, 2018 / Nenets Reindeer Herders of Yamal .

History of Tyumen Oblast

People began to explore Western Siberia about 15-20 thousand years ago. Western Siberia was inhabited by the tribes of the Khanty and Mansi (Voguls), Nenets (Samoyed), Selkups (Ostyaks-Samoyeds). At the end of the first millennium AD, the Turkic tribes inhabited the south of the present Tyumen region; later, they formed into an ethnic community of the Siberian Tatars.

In the 13th-16th centuries, Chingi-Tura (Chimgi-Tura), the capital of the Tyumen Khanate of the Tatars and Kereits, was standing on the bank of the Tyumenka River. The khanate was in vassal dependence on the Golden Horde. Around 1500, the ruler of the Tyumen Khanate united the greater part of Western Siberia by creating the Siberian Khanate with the capital in the town of Kashlyk, also known as Sibir and Isker.

The Siberian khans waged numerous wars against the Astrakhan Khanate, the Nogai Horde, raided on Russian territory. In 1563, Kuchum became the khan. He managed to unite the previously hostile Tatar tribes, subordinated the Vogul and Samoyed tribes to his influence.

In order to protect their territories from the Tatars, the Urals merchants and industrialists of Stroganov hired the Cossack detachment headed by Ermak to their service. In 1582, the Cossacks began a campaign against the Siberian Khanate. In the autumn of 1582, there was a decisive battle against the troops headed by Kuchum. In the battle at the Chuvash cape, the khan’s forces were defeated.

More Historical Facts…

The Cossacks’ military campaign in Siberia lasted four years. The main forces of the Siberian Tatars were defeated. Even after the death of Ermak in 1585, the khanate could not gain its former strength. The campaign of Ermak opened the way for the Russian migration to Siberia.

In 1586, the construction of a stockaded settlement began on the Tura River. Later, it became the first Russian town in Siberia - Tyumen. In 1587, the stockaded settlement of Tobolsk was founded, 17 km from the Tatar settlement of Sibir (Kashlyk, Isker) (the capital of the Siberian Khanate). In 1593-1594, the towns of Berezov and Surgut were founded. With the expansion of land routes to Eastern Siberia, more Russian towns were founded. In 1590, Tobolsk became the main center of Siberia.

In the 17th century, Tobolsk and Tyumen, as trade and craft centers, reached the level of the towns of the European part of Russia. Since the end of the 17th century, stone construction began - the first stone buildings beyond the Urals appeared in Tobolsk. The only Kremlin in the eastern part of Russia was built in Tobolsk. In 1708, Tobolsk became the administrative center of the largest province in Russia - Siberian province.

One of the factors that determined the life of Western Siberia was the political exile. In the second quarter of the 19th century, the Decembrists were exiled to Tobolsk gubernia (province). Other representatives of liberation movements of Russia - Radishev, Dostoyevsky, Petrashevsky and a lot of others - also experienced imprisonment in Tobolsk.

In the 18th-19th centuries, Tobolsk was the administrative, cultural and spiritual center of Siberia. Tyumen was a commercial and industrial center. Located at the intersection of trade routes between the West and the East, Tyumen turned into a “gateway to Siberia.” Through Tyumen, the path of settlers from the European part of the Russian Empire passed after the abolition of serfdom and during the Stolypin agrarian reform.

The development of the region intensified during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Several natives of the region became world famous: D.I. Mendeleev (Tobolsk) - one of the greatest chemists and the author of the periodic system, P.P. Ershov (Tobolsk) - a poet, storyteller, author of “The Horse - Hunchback”, G.E. Rasputin (Pokrovskoye village) - the favorite of the last Russian emperor.

In 1917-1918, the family of Nikolai Romanov, the last Russian emperor, was under the arrest in Tobolsk. The town was one of the centers of the largest popular uprising against the Bolsheviks - a peasant uprising in Siberia in 1921-1922. During the Soviet era, the region continued to be a place of exile, part of the Gulag - a system of forced-labor camps.

In the 1920s-1940s, the territory remained mainly agricultural. During the Second World War, a number of industrial enterprises, scientific institutions, ministries, and departments were evacuated to this region. Since the summer of 1941, the body of V.I. Lenin was kept in Tyumen. August 14, 1944, Tyumen oblast with a center in Tyumen was formed, the region also included the Khanty-Mansi and Yamal-Nenets districts.

In 1964, a new page in the history of the Tyumen region began. The discovery of significant oil and natural gas deposits became the basis for the creation of one of the world’s largest oil and gas complexes. The development of oil and gas fields radically changed life in the Tyumen region. Several new towns founded: Novy Urengoy, Nadym, Noyabrsk, and others.

In record time, the Tyumen region became the country’s main oil and gas power base. By the end of the 1980s, the region annually produced about 400 million tons of oil and 574.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The development of the natural resources of Tyumen oblast became a matter of the whole country. The population increased tenfold.

Nature of Tyumen Oblast

Scenic landscape in the Tyumen region

Author: Berdnikov Anton

Tyumen Oblast scenery

Author: Sergey Bulanov

Wildlife of the Tyumen region

Author: N.Milov

Tyumen Oblast - Features

Tyumen Oblast is the only region of Russia that extends (together with autonomous okrugs) from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the state border in the south making it the third largest province of Russia after Yakutia and Krasnoyarsk krai.

The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra is the main oil and gas bearing region of Russia and one of the largest oil producing regions in the world.

The Tyumen region is located in the southwestern part of the West Siberian lowland plain and divides Russia into two large parts: to the west - the Urals and the European part of the country, to the east - the Asian part: Siberia and the Far East.

The climate is arctic and subarctic in the north, temperate - in the center and in the south. The average temperature in January ranges from minus 17 degrees Celsius in Tyumen to minus 27 degrees Celsius in the north.

The largest rivers of the region, the Ob and the Irtysh, are navigable. In total, there are about 70 thousand lakes. Most of the territory is covered with forests.

The bulk of the country’s proven oil and gas reserves are concentrated in the autonomous okrugs of Tyumen Oblast. Peat, quartz sands and limestone are also extracted. Natural ore deposits and precious stones are found on the eastern slope of the Urals, near the Arctic Circle.

Tyumen Oblast - Economy

In terms of industrial output, the Tyumen region ranks first in Russia. The main branch of specialization is the fuel industry, which accounts for more than 80% of the region’s industrial output. The Tobolsk petrochemical plant is the largest in Russia. Timber cutting and wood processing industries are also developed.

The region is characterized by harsh natural and climatic conditions, 90% of the territory is classified as or equivalent to the regions of the Far North. Only 3% of the region’s territory is occupied by agricultural land.

More favorable climatic conditions of the south allow to grow grain, potatoes, vegetables, coarse and juicy forages, the presence of large areas of hayfields and pastures creates favorable conditions for dairy and meat cattle breeding. About 80% of the region’s agricultural output is produced here.

Reindeer herding and fishing are the traditional occupation of the indigenous peoples of the North.

Tourism in Tyumen Oblast

The main types of tourism popular in the Tyumen region: ecological, cultural (excursions), therapeutic and health, hunting and fishing, active recreation.

Tyumen and Tobolsk, the oldest cities founded during the beginning of the development of Siberia, have a number of architectural monuments of the times of the Russian Empire. The city’s day in Tyumen is celebrated on the last Sunday of July. As a rule, several thematic carnivals are held during this time. The city’s day in Tobolsk is celebrated on the last Sunday of June.

In addition to its rich historical and cultural heritage, the Tyumen region has great opportunities for active recreation and for those who wish to receive spa and wellness services. This region is rich in mineral waters, various in medicinal properties and quality, and thermal springs. In the lakes of the region, significant resources of various types of therapeutic mud are concentrated.

The main sights located outside Tyumen and Tobolsk:

Abalak - a village and a popular tourist complex located about 20 km from Tobolsk with a wooden fortress built in the style of the times of the conquest of Siberia. Reconstructions of historical events and holidays are being held here. Another attraction of this place is the Abalak Znamensky Monastery.

Yalutorovsk - an old town with a unique wooden fort, where you can feel the atmosphere of the 17th-18th centuries (watchtowers, craft workshops, recreational zones).

Pokrovskoye - a village in Yarkovsky district, 100 km east of Tyumen, on the road to Tobolsk. It is the birthplace of Grigory Rasputin. There is a museum of Rasputin in the village.

Turnaevo - a center of ecological tourism attracting lovers of wildlife: hiking, horse riding, hunting, fishing, dog sledding (in winter), etc. You can also visit a moose farm.

Andreevskoe Lake - the largest reservoir in the vicinity of Tyumen. It is a system of large and small lakes connected by straits. The area of the water surface is about 30 square kilometers. On the shore of the lake there is an archaeological museum-reserve.

Maryinsky Gorge - a natural monument located in the southern part of the region known for its magnificent landscapes, rich fauna and picturesque bends of the Iset River.

Tyumen oblast of Russia photos

Pictures of tyumen oblast.

Endless field in Tyumen Oblast

Author: Andrey Bogdanov

Paved road in the Tyumen region

Author: Kulyov Nikita

Abandoned church in Tyumen Oblast

Author: Vitaliy Cherepanov

Winter in the Tyumen region

Author: Heinrich Jena

Lake in Tyumen Oblast

Author: Dubinsky Roman

Wooden church in Tyumen Oblast

Currently 2.87/5

Rating: 2.9 /5 (181 votes cast)

The 12 best places to visit in Tyumen (the oldest siberian city)

It is the oldest city in siberia and has many points of interest. find out about the best places to visit in tyumen, russia..

The first Siberian city was founded in 1586. Tyumen has been unofficially titled the oil and gas capital of Russia. The city’s population is 707 000 people, which continues to increase. According to RBC Holding, Tyumen is one of ten the most quick-growing towns in Russia. Don’t let the mention of oil-hungry businesspeople leave you thinking this is a dull, money-focused city, though. The city has a buzzing street life in summer and a couple of worthwhile sights that, taken together, will keep you entertained for a day or so.

Tyumen is also the stepping stone to the gorgeous old town of Tobolsk, a few hours’ bus or train ride away. Tyumen is a cultural, business, educational and administrative center of the Tyumen region. Most of the city’s population comprises young people under 35.

Here are always places to go in the evening and to see during weekends. Cozy cafes, luxurious restaurants, the best theatres and philharmonic concert hall, and museums reminding about the rich history of the city — all that is Tyumen. These are the best places to see in Tyumen, Russia.

1. Tyumen’s Holy Trinity Monastery

Tyumen’s Holy Trinity Monastery is located in the historical center of Tyumen. It is just a few minutes walk from the Tura Embankment. The monastery was founded on the picturesque bank of the Tura River in 1616. Almost a century later, in 1708, the old wooden monastery was rebuilt with stone. Shortly after, the monastery was named Holy Trinity. The building process was conducted under the leadership of metropolitan Philophey Leschinsky. Later, he took monastic vows and lived in seclusion for the rest of his life. After he died in 1727, he was buried at the monastery’s entrance.

During the Soviet period, the monastery was used as a dormitory for a military platoon and the headquarters of the city’s water control system. The monastery was returned to the Tyumen diocese in 1995, but the first service was not held there until 2003. In 2005 the relic of prelate Philophey was uncovered and is now kept in the Peter and Paul Cathedral monastery. In 2007 a square was dedicated to Philophey near the monastery. Today Holy Trinity Monastery is open for everyone to see and tour while it continues to hold regular liturgical services.

2. Znamensky Cathedral

The history of Znamensky Cathedral found its roots in the first half of the 17th century, when a small wooden chapel was first erected at the site of the current Cathedral. The old wooden chapel was replaced with the construction of a stone church which began on September 1st, 1768. The church’s previous name was given in honor of Mary, the Mother of God, and her icon within the church. The building was dedicated only 33 years later, in 1801. The church’s first stone building was painted white and consisted of the main chapel, a bell tower, a refectory, and a porch.

After the Revolution of 1917, the Cathedral was used as a transit prison. Still, between 1933 and 1941, the church was returned to the diocese. With the beginning of World War II, however, it was again taken over and used to house dislocated army forces. Finally, the Cathedral was returned to the eparchy. On June 19th, 1994, the clergy held a liturgical service for the first time. Today Znamensky Cathedral is a functioning church and one of the most beautiful symbols of Tyumen.

3. Tyumen Bolshoi Drama Theater

In 2008, The Tyumen Bolshoi Drama Theater got a new building built in record time for one year and eight months. With a 158-year history, the theater is the most prominent Drama Theater in Russia. The history of the Tyumen theater began even before the first building. It is known that in 1858 the St. Petersburg guest expressed his admiration for Amateur performances.

This fact was recorded, and the city’s theatrical history was reckoned from it. History tells us that in 1890, the first Guild merchant, an honorary citizen of the municipality Tekut’ev Andrei Ivanovich, founded a permanent theatre, which entered the town history called Tekut’evsky. Andrei Ivanovich, in love with the spectacle of dramatic scenes, supported theatre for 26 years.

In 1916, before his death, he bequeathed the theatre to the city. The City Council accepted the gift, and newspaper announcements began to inform about the performances not in the Tekut’ev’s theater but in the city theatre named Tekut’ev. After the October revolution, the theatre received the name of V. I. Lenin.

Under the leadership of the Petrograd director Valmar, it was staged such performances as “Idiot”, “the Power of Darkness”, “the Living corpse”, and “the Day”. In subsequent years the core of the repertoire included Russian and foreign classics, the best works of modern drama.

4. Saint George Ascension church

Through the parishioners’ efforts, this church was erected on the Tura River’s left bank. The church began as a stone two-storied building with a bell tower and two thrones: one is on the first floor in honor of Saint George and the other in honor of the Ascension of God is on the second.

After the October Revolution in 1929, the church was closed, and a workshop of tanners and chemists used its building. In 1934-35 the church became a dormitory for driving school students and combined operators. Later the building was under the governance of Tuymen’s fur coat fabric company.

Only in 1996 was the building returned to the diocese of Tobolsk and Tyumen. Two years later, services were resumed there. Step by step, in 2005, the bell tower was restored. In 2006, the church participated in the government program entitled “Cultural memorials restoration.” Now it is a functioning church that adorns the historical center of Tyumen.

5. Church of the Saviour

The Church of the Saviour, also known as the Church of the Image of “The Saviour Not Made by Hands” or shorter Spasskaya Church, is a church in Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast, Russia, located at Lenin Street, 43, at a crossroad between the Chelyuskintsev Street. Built-in a late 18th-century Siberian Baroque and early 20th-century neorussian style, the building is one of Siberia’s oldest and most expressive churches, under monument protection.

It is believed that the early wooden church was raised in 1586 and reconstructed after several fires into a stable stone building in the late 17th century. The Church of the Saviour saw another two rebuildings in the late 19th century. However, after the 1917 October Revolution, the church was subject to confiscations of its property in 1922, and in 1930 was closed and became a momentary prison.

After the failed attempt to destroy the church two years later, it has been used as an archive and a library. The building storage material for the Tyumen Local Historical Museum is expected to be returned to the local eparchy in 2019.

6. Tura Embankment

The only thing in the Russian four-level structure of this kind and one of the favorite holiday destinations among residents and visitors alike. Here, close to each other is full of the city’s attractions: Lover’s Bridge, historical area, the museum “City Council” Architecture and Construction University, and Holy Trinity Monastery. Embankment and bridge of lovers – the city card is depicted on the magnets, postcards, and other souvenirs tourists bring from Tyumen.

Construction of the promenade continues today, and it planned its expansion on both sides of the river Tura. Throughout the embankment, scattered monuments of famous people, life, and activity were somehow linked to Tyumen. Summer, early Fall, and spring – are the best time for walking and spending time on the waterfront.

It is always noisy: many people are playing songs with a guitar, working fountains, flash mobs, and holding various events, to the bridge of lovers traditionally come to the newlyweds. In the summer promenade Tours – the most popular holiday destination for residents.

7. The Lovers’ Bridge

The Lovers’ Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Tura River in the Central District of Tyumen. The bridge was built in 1987 – five years after the collapse of an old wooden bridge in the exact location. The last name of the bridge was Peshehodniy (Pedestrian). Still, in 2003 local DJs Maria Kondratovich and Timur Shkval arranged an unusual contest called “The most unusual kiss”.

After this event, the city mayor Stepan Kirichuk offered to rename the bridge the Lovers’ Bridge. Then, on July 26th, newly married couples, the director of the Red Army Radio Station V. Bogodelov, and the city’s mayor performed an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the bridge.

8. Kolokolnikovs Estate Museum

The Kolokolnikovs Estate Museum is the only remaining classical merchant’s estate in Tyumen. The building’s facade combines classical and baroque architecture elements and traditional Siberian carving. The doors open to a luxurious, brightly lit hall with lofted ceilings and walls decorated with vivid paintings of the Kolokolnikovs family.

One painting depicts an old trade shop, representing the collective image of the city’s shops. Stepping through the doors of the Kolokolnikovs Estate transports one back to the unique atmosphere of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The permanent exhibit of the Kolokolnikovs Estate Museum is called “The History of the House”. It is dedicated to the history of the merchant families, such as the Ikonnikovs and the Kolokolnikovs. The exhibit will also explain the historical events in this house, one of which was the monumental meeting between the future Emperor Alexander II and the great Russian poet V. Zhukovsky in 1837. In 1919 the estate was used as the headquarters of Marshal V. Blyukher.

9. Gorodskaya Duma Museum

The building of the Tyumen regional Museum of Local Lore Gorodskaya Duma was built in the second half of the XIX century. It is a magnificent example of Russian provincial architecture. The high ladder and a stepped attic give the museum its slenderness, combined with a Corinthian portico and massive columns — the traditional buildings of public institutions and architectural elements.

The Window into the nature constant exhibition introduces the variety of Flora and Fauna of the Tyumen region and its ancient inhabitants. An integral part of the museum is a small paleontological Museum. The skeleton’s collection of mammoth, fossil bison, woolly rhinoceros, and cave bears is presented at the museum. In addition, visitors can get acquainted with the Botanical, Zoological, and entomological collections.

10. House Masharova Museum

The House Masharova Museum is an old house built in the neoclassical style and previously belonged to N. Masharov, a famous manufacturer and one of the founders of the iron industry in Tyumen. The museum is a monument to late 19th and early 20th-century Siberian architecture and is renowned for its luxurious décor.

Traditional musical events and temporary exhibitions are regularly organized in the House Masharova Museum. They take place in the chamber-like atmosphere of the welcoming hall of the merchant’s house.

The permanent exhibition called the Family Book tells the tale of the family’s life at the end of the 19th century. During a tour of the house built, you will see many authentic items of a past era and discover the etiquette of a traditional family from Tyumen.

11. Alexandrovsky Garden

The original name of the Alexandrovsky Garden is the Country Garden. The garden appeared on a vacant plot of land in 1851 when thousands of linden, birch, spruce, and pine trees were planted in the area of about 100 acres (40 000 m²) with the money of the merchant Ivan Ikonnikov.

The garden was named after the crown prince Alexander, the future Tsar Alexander II, who visited Tyumen on May 31st, 1837, during his journey through Siberia. After the October Revolution of 1917, the garden was abandoned until 1948, when a small portion of it was restored through the employees’ efforts of a ship-building plant.

The landscape of the garden was adorned with a pond, a small bridge built traversing the ravine, a shooting range, and a restaurant with a terrace. In the 1960s, it was abandoned again, and by the 1970s, it fell into disrepair. Later a development effort began on the garden’s premises with the construction of houses, a kindergarten, and garages. A road to the Profsoyuzny Bridge was also built through the park.

However, the renewal of the garden did not begin until 2007. Although ten times smaller than the original garden, the grounds were restored, and the Alexandrovsky Garden became its official name. The fountain was rebuilt as well as sculptures of citizens styled after the 19th century. Some statues include the Hussar, Ladies on a Walk, A Girl at Rest, and the Boy.

12. Rasputin Museum

Grigory Rasputin was a friend of the last Russian emperor Nikolay II and his family. Rasputin is one of the most mysterious and exciting personalities of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. In the 1900s, among Saint Petersburg’s high society, he had the reputation of the Tsar’s family friend, a religious elder, a seer, and a healer.

The exposition includes a cosmetic mirror, broken down in the middle that symbolizes the broken life of its owner, an icon of St. Simeon Verhotursky the Righteous, who is highly honored in Siberia, and the plate of the famous Kuznetsovky porcelain factory with the monogram of the empress, which Rasputin gave to his god-daughter Iraida Kolesnikova during her christening, an old Viennese chair from the Rasputin’s house. There is an authentic platband from the famous home of Rasputin, and the only thing remained of the building.

Portuguese pastry: 15 amazing sweets from Portugal

There are few countries in the world with as much variety of traditional sweets as Portugal. The immense variety of...

Russian cities: the 15 largest

The most common Russian names (meanings and origins)

100 amazing Fyodor Dostoevsky quotes full of wisdom

30 Russian Proverbs and Sayings full of wisdom

Mais infomação

Redes sociais.

IMAGES

(DOC) ATLAS Cultural Tourism Research Questionnaire 2020 version
Tourist Perception Questionnaire
QUESTIONNAIRE
(DOC) Questionnaire for tourism potential (Private sector
(DOC) ATLAS Cultural Tourism Questionnaire 2007 (English version
APPENDIX A

COMMENTS

(PDF) ATLAS Cultural Tourism Questionnaire 2021
This survey is part of a worldwide research programme conducted by the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS). The aim of the study is to find out more about visitors to cultural ...
Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends
The growing body of cultural tourism scholarship is confirmed by a literature search on the term "cultural tourism" on Google Scholar. As Fig. 1 indicates, cultural tourism sources have risen from less than 100 in 1990 to over 6000 in 2016. Growth was particularly sharp between 2005 and 2015, and cultural tourism publications have risen as a proportion of all tourism publications, to reach ...
ATLAS Cultural Tourism Research Questionnaire 2020 version
This is the European English language version of the ATLAS cultural tourism survey for 2020. The survey is currently being translated into other languages by project members. Instructions for use of the survey are available on the project website
(PDF) Cultural Tourism Research Group Report
A revised version of the basic version of the cultural tourism questionnaire was developed, which kept many of the features of the previous version but added a few new elements. These included ...
The traditional quantitative approach. Surveying cultural tourists
This analysis illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of survey methods in cultural tourism, to highlight some common problems of these methods, to illustrate the influence of questionnaire design on responses and to demonstrate the way in which questions can be used to operationalize specific theoretical concepts related to cultural tourism.
ATLAS Cultural Tourism Questionnaire 2007 (English version)
An overview of the data collected for the ATLAS Cultural Tourism Project worldwide in 2007. Includes data from Mexico, Greece, Latvia, Italy, Austria, Romania, Portugal and Vietnam. This study of the impact of the European Cultural Capital in Sibiu in 2007 is part of an ongoing programme of research initiated by the European Association for ...
Cultural Tourism: A review of recent research and trends
In his survey on papers involving cultural tourism, Richards (2018) exposes the thoughts of authors who question whether the World Heritage list makes sense, and whether in fact the presence of ...
Full article: Cultural Experience Tourist Motives Dimensionality: A
Accompanying this growth of cultural tourism and its numerous experiential aspects and associations, is a body of research on cultural tourists, the consumption (and production) of cultural and heritage attractions, and the visitor's motivation and behavior. ... the questionnaire instrument was developed in English, viewed by experts for ...
Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends
This necessarily limited review of cultural tourism research over the past decade or so reflects many of the trends that are outlined in the UNWTO Report on Tourism and Culture Synergies (2018). The many academics who responded to the UNWTO survey not only underlined the growth of cultural tourism over the five years previous to the survey, but ...
Cultural tourism: An analysis of engagement, cultural contact
At the beginning of the survey, we defined cultural tourism so that there is no confusion among survey takers regarding its meaning. We asked the participants to think about their most recent cultural tourism experience when filling out the survey. As a result, 320 usable responses were collected. The self-reported most recent cultural ...
Purdue e-Pubs
Purdue e-Pubs | Purdue University Scholarship Online
The cultural and heritage tourist, SEM analysis: the case of The
This study researches the loyalty of travelers to destinations which include material cultural heritage. It analyzes the loyalty of visitors to a destination with cultural heritage sites in order to provide results which can be used to improve the management of the destination. This research used Warp-PLS 7.0 software with a structural equations model to evaluate the 8 proposed and validated ...
Perceptions of tourism: a study of residents' attitudes towards tourism
Introduction. Tourism is proven to be crucial for the global economic development (World Tourism Organization, 2018; World Travel and Tourism Council, 2018), yet it is a very transversal industry that affects not only the economy of a destination but also its environment, its society and its culture.This paper focusses on those socio-cultural aspects of tourism as it aims at contributing to ...
(PDF) The traditional quantitative approach. surveying cultural
For example, the ATLAS Cultural Tourism Project conducted standardised surveys on the experience of cultural tourism sites and events globally from 1991 onwards (Richards, 2010). This model of ...
Tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text
The survey results were analyzed by factor analysis., - The tourism experience expectations include five factors: experience expectations of easiness and fun; cultural entertainment; personal identification; historical reminiscences; and escapism. ... "Tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text narrative analysis ...
Tourist experience expectations: questionnaire development and text
Literary tourism is a sub-sector of cultural tourism and relates to travelling to places connected to fictional texts and the authors of those texts. Although it is an old form of tourism and lies at the foundation of classic European Grand Tour, it has not received much academic attention until recently and a number of qualitative studies on ...
New Challenges to Managing Cultural Routes: The Visitor Perspective
In recent decades, cultural routes have become increasingly important in the tourism offerings of rural destinations. It is vital to identify the factors that visitors consider important to their satisfaction with a cultural route and its overall impact on a tourist destination. This paper employs Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to investigate the dimensions of visitor satisfaction on ...
Tobolsk city, Russia travel guide
Tobolsk is the most important center of cultural tourism in Siberia and a large industrial center of the country in the field of gas chemistry. The population of Tobolsk is about 98,100 (2022), the area - 222 sq. km. The phone code - +7 3456, the postal codes - 626128, 626150-626159. Local time in Tobolsk city is August 18, 10:09 am (+5 UTC).
Tourist experience expectations: Questionnaire development and text
conducted to develop a questionnaire of tourist experience expectations (TEE). The survey results wer e. analyzed by factor analysis. Findings - The tourism experience expectations include ﬁve ...
Tyumen city, Russia travel guide
Tyumen is a city in Russia located in the south of Western Siberia, about 2,100 east of Moscow, the administrative center of Tyumen Oblast. Founded in 1586, Tyumen became the first Russian town in Siberia. The population of Tyumen is about 828,600 (2022), the area - 698 sq. km. The phone code is +7 3452, the postal codes - 625000-625062.
Tyumen Oblast, Russia guide
Tyumen Oblast - Overview. Tyumen Oblast is a federal subject of Russia stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the boundary with Kazakhstan, part of the Ural Federal District. Tyumen is the capital city of the region. The population of Tyumen Oblast without autonomous okrugs is about 1,552,000 (2022), the area without autonomous okrugs - 160,122 sq. km.
Cultural tourists: Profiles, Motivations and Activities
Questions that arise are, among others, can cultural tourism generate understanding and social cohesion? Consequently, can it also mean increasing the happiness of both tourists and the host ...
The 12 best places to visit in Tyumen (the oldest siberian city)
Tyumen is also the stepping stone to the gorgeous old town of Tobolsk, a few hours' bus or train ride away. Tyumen is a cultural, business, educational and administrative center of the Tyumen region. Most of the city's population comprises young people under 35. Here are always places to go in the evening and to see during weekends.
44 questions with answers in CULTURAL TOURISM
1 answer. Oct 23, 2023. I am using this theory for the research title: LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND TOURIST IMPRESSION OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF CULINARY CULTURE & TRADITION AMONG ILOCANOS. Relevant answer ...