Heritage Tourism and Tourist Experience: A Systematic Literature Review on Monuments, Motivation, Image, and Satisfaction

Abstract

This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) explores visitor motivation, on-site image, satisfaction, and overall experience within heritage tourism, focusing particularly on India’s ASI-protected monuments. The review combines results from more than 50 studies listed in Scopus and points out important reasons why people visit, such as learning about culture, feeling nostalgic, and having emotional connections, and shows how these reasons relate to tourist satisfaction and the image of the destination. The analysis reveals significant theoretical fragmentation, limited attention to emotive factors like existential authenticity, and the frequent exclusion of Indian ASI sites in mainstream research. While the field is shifting toward data-driven models like PLS-SEM, there remains a lack of longitudinal and mixed-method research designs. The review provides practical recommendations for policymakers, emphasising improved heritage interpretation, digital engagement, and site infrastructure. Advocating for interdisciplinary approaches, it encourages integrating psychological, technological, and cultural perspectives, aligning research with heritage policy and sustainability goals, and advancing both scholarly understanding and practical heritage management.