Fascination, Place Attachment, and Environmental Stewardship in Cultural Tourism Destinations

Abstract

Cultural heritage sites act as gateways to the past and provide a unique opportunity for observation and education. However, the increasing need for authentic historical experiences creates significant obstacles to the development of tourism destinations that lack sufficient infrastructure and management capabilities. Increased pressure often threatens the long-term sustainability of these sites, thus shifting the responsibility of conservation to residents and tourists. Promoting the responsible management and care of local historic sites to visitors is essential to ensure their long-term viability. Visitors' fascination with a particular heritage can create a sense of commitment to the preservation of the place. This research investigates the correlation between visitors' fascination, emotional connection to the place, and their sense of responsibility and stewardship behaviour for the Khaled Nabi site in Iran, using place attachment (PA), and attention restoration (ART) theories. The results emphasise the emotional and psychological processes that motivate visitors to participate in place stewardship, providing valuable insights for devising efficient measures to decrease the adverse effects of tourists on cultural assets.