A cognitive appraisal perspective of emotional accessibility at heritage sites: empirical evidence from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra

The emotional aspects of heritage experiences remain so far under-researched with the emotional accessibility at such sites ignored. Using cognitive appraisal theory (CAT) and reversal theory, this study evaluates the role of motivation, tourism impacts, emotional accessibility, and felt emotions in determining tourist satisfaction at heritage sites. Based on a sample of 1531 international visitors to Petra, this study confirms that tourist motivation affects perceived positive but not negative tourism impacts. Tourist motivation contributes positively toward visitors accessing their emotions (emotional accessibility) derived from the site visit. However, only positive tourism impacts contribute to emotional accessibility, and the latter informs both felt positive and negative emotions. Significant relationships exist between these factors and tourist satisfaction. Implications for cultural sustainability and tourist experience management at heritage sites are suggested.