A Study on the Design and Effect Evaluation of Immersive Heritage Tourism Experiences Empowered by Smart Technology—Taking World Heritage Sites as Examples

Abstract

Smart technologies have created new possibilities for enhancing cultural heritage tourism through immersive and interactive visitor experiences. This study investigates the design mechanisms and evaluation framework of technology-enabled immersive heritage tourism using three representative World Heritage sites in China as case studies. A three-dimensional evaluation framework encompassing technology integration, immersive experience, and cultural identity was established, and quantitative analyses were conducted to assess the effectiveness of intelligent technologies in heritage interpretation. Results indicate that technology interactivity, scene authenticity, and narrative coherence are the primary factors influencing immersive experience quality. Based on empirical findings, three optimization pathways—technology-adaptive design, multisensory collaborative interaction, and dynamic feedback enhancement—are proposed. The study provides practical guidance for the digital transformation of heritage tourism and offers methodological references for virtual–physical interaction systems, intelligent perception technologies, and immersive communication environments.