Exploring the Relationship Between Authenticity and Wellbeing in Heritage Tourism

Dear Colleagues,

Authenticity in the field of heritage tourism plays an important role in not only advancing research but also in shaping its development and practice (Chhabra 2022; Timothy 2021; Wu, Shen, Wang, Hou et al. 2019). Authenticity is widely discussed phenomena in the documented literature and has been subject to several delineations such as objective, constructivist, existentialist, negotiated and theoplacity. It has been examined from both materialistic and emotional standpoints. For instance, the impact of perceived authenticity from an emotional and behavioral perspective have been extensively explored. The association between satisfaction and authenticity has been examined by several studies (Chhabra 2010; Kolar & Zabkar 2010; Zhang et al.). Additionally, the relationship between perceived authenticity and loyalty have been examined. Furthermore, the recent literature has focused on exploring the effects of authentic perceptions and experiences on place attachment and subjective wellbeing. For instance, Wu et al. scrutinize the inherent association between the perceived authenticity of tourism experience and its resulting subjective wellbeing. Wellbeing, however, encompasses a multifaceted field. It can be broadly delineated into hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing.

Eudaimonia can be triggered by pursuits that align with one’s inner self or deeply rooted values, triggering a feeling of existential authenticity or close to one’s inner/true self (Waterman 1993). This aspect of wellbeing has psychological connotations and can be marked with six aspects of actualization: freedom, self-conformity, personal advancement, environmental dexterity, having a definitive aim in life, and positive bonding/affinity (Li and Chan 2017; Yi et al. 2022). On the other hand, subjective wellbeing can be delineated into three categories: satisfaction towards life, mental wellbeing, and freedom from negative emotions or mood (Keyes, Shmotkin and Ryff 2002; Ryan & Deci 2001; Wu et al. 2019).

To date, research continues to be sparse on authenticity and its relatedness to wellbeing in heritage tourism (Brooks, Waterton, Saul & Renzaho 2023). Of the few studies that have appeared, the focus remains narrow. For instance, few scholars have looked at the possible effect of perceived authenticity and reminiscence on satisfaction, happiness, and subjective wellbeing. The notion of wellbeing has broad connotations. It is underpinned by the notions of positive psychology and desire for optimal flow kind of experiences (Filep and Pearce 2014; Nawijn and Filep 2016). Relevant dimensions include ‘positive emotions, engagement, meaning, and self-actualization or achievement which are congruent with Seligman’s PERMA model of wellbeing.

Heritage tourism experiences hold potential to connect a tourist or a host with their inner self and can enhance their hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing (Smith and Diekmann 2017). According to Yi et al. (2022), there is an inherent connection between existential authenticity (as it enhance human flourishing and helps to connect/live with one’s true nature) and wellbeing, both from theoretical and practitioner standpoints. According to Ryan & Deci (2001), this is what makes a person truly authentic and can help in addressing issues associated with self-alienation (which refers to a state of being out of touch with one’s true self).

Furthermore, although phenomenological traditions form the root of existential authenticity, marking the departure from the tangible aspects of heritage (Yi, Fu, Yin & Xiao 2022; Wang 1999), the theoplacity version argues that existential authenticity can be experienced in a tangible setting which is both historical and genuine. That is, visitors can feel a sense of happiness and eudaimonia as a result of being at a heritage site or participating in related activities including socialization with the hosts and other stakeholders of heritage tourism (Gilbert and Abdullah 2004). The manner in which they negotiate their understanding of what they experience can shape the extent to which the site enhances their wellbeing. Therefore, the quest for authenticity in heritage tourism makes an interesting field of study from the standpoint of its existentialist and theoplacity versions since it can enhance both the hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing of both the guests and the hosts. The Special Issue is developed to address the gap in the literature and advance this line of inquiry.

This call is open to multifaceted and multidisciplinary research initiatives, and the intent is to feature both case study-specific and theoretical research papers, that are based on (but not limited to) the following themes:

• Heritage tourism and wellbeing;
• Existentialist authenticity and eudaimonic wellbeing;
• Nostalgia, authenticity, and wellbeing;
• Theoplacity, sustainability, and wellbeing;
• Intangible heritage and place attachment;
• Role of authenticity perceptions in enhancing wellbeing of guests and hosts;
• Developing authentic heritage trails to promote wellbeing;
• Cultural distance experiences and their impact on wellbeing of guests and hosts;
• Authentic heritage systems and wellbeing;
• Authenticity of personified eco-cultural landscapes;
• Authentication processes in heritage tourism and their impact on wellbeing;
• Immersive indigenous tourism experiences and wellbeing;
• Promoting wellbeing through the authentic marketing of heritage tourism.

Interested authors are requested to submit full paper. It will be blind reviewed by at least two reviewers according to the requirements specified in the journal’s “Instruction for Authors”.

Please upload all submissions (in English) to the following:

Dr. Deepak Chhabra
School of Community Resources & Development
411 North Central Ave., Mail code: 4020
Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA
Tel: 602 496 0550
Fax: 602 496 0953
Email: [email protected]

References

Brooks, C., Waterton, E., Saul, H., & Renzaho, A. (2023). Exploring the relationships between heritage tourism, sustainable community development and host communities’ health and wellbeing: A systematic review. PLoS One, 18(3), e0282319.

Chhabra, D. (2010). Back to the past: a sub-segment of Generation Y's perceptions of authenticity. Journal of sustainable tourism, 18(6), 793-809.

Chhabra, D. (2021). Resilience, authenticity and digital heritage tourism. Routledge.

Filep, S., and P. Pearce. 2014. Tourist Experience and Fulfillment. Oxon: Routledge.

Gilbert, D., & Abdullah, J. (2004). Holidaytaking and the sense of well‐being. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 103–121.

Haybron, D. M. (2008). Happiness, the self and human flourishing. Utilitas, 20(1), 21–49.

Keyes, C., D. Shmotkin, and C. Ryff. 2002. “Optimizing Wellbeing: The Empirical Encounter of Two Traditions.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 82 (6): 1007–22.

Kifer, Y., Heller, D., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Galinsky, A. D. (2013). The good life of the powerful: The experience of power and authenticity enhances subjective well‐being. Psychological Science, 24(3), 280–288.

Kim, H., & Jamal, T. (2007). Touristic quest for existential authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 34(1), 181–201.

Kolar, T., and V. Zabkar. 2010. “A Consumer-Based Model of Authenticity: An Oxymoron or the Foundation of Cultural Heritage Marketing?” Tourism Management 31:652–64.

Li, T., and E. Chan. 2017. “Diaspora Tourism and Well-being: A Eudaimonic View.” Annals of Tourism Research 63:203–22

Nawijn, J., and S. Filep. 2016. “Two Directions for Future Tourist Well-being Research.” Annals of Tourism Research 61:213–67.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well‐being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141–166.

Smith, M. K., & Diekmann, A. (2017). Tourism and wellbeing. Annals of Tourism Research, 66, 1–13

Timothy, D. J. (2021). Cultural heritage and tourism: An introduction (2nd ed.). Channel View Publications.

Wang, N. Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Ann. Tour. Res. 1999, 26, 349–370.

Waterman, A. S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness: Contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaimonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(4), 678–691

Wu, D., Shen, C., Wang, E., Hou, Y., & Yang, J. (2019). Impact of the perceived authenticity of heritage sites on subjective well-being: A study of the mediating role of place attachment and satisfaction. Sustainability, 11(21), 6148.

Yi, X., Fu, X., Lin, V. S., & Xiao, H. (2022). Integrating authenticity, well-being, and memorability in heritage tourism: A two-site investigation. Journal of Travel Research, 61(2), 378-393.

Yu, J., Li, H., & Xiao, H. (2020). Are authentic tourists happier? Examining structural relationships amongst perceived cultural distance, existential authenticity, and wellbeing. International Journal of Tourism Research, 22(1), 144-154.

Zhang, Y., Lee, T. J., & Xiong, Y. (2022). The contribution of animal-based cultural ecosystem services to tourist well-being at cultural heritage sites. Journal of Travel Research, 61(7), 1631-1647.

Dr. Deepak Chhabra
Guest Editor

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• heritage tourism
• wellbeing
• authenticity