Authenticity, identity, self-improvement, and responsibility at heritage sites: The local residents’ perspective

Abstract

Although heritage tourism receives increasing attention, researchers have not yet considered heritage residents' cultural self-improvement and heritage responsibility. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mechanism of perceived authenticity, localized identity, cultural self-improvement, and heritage responsibility. With empirical evidence from two well-known world cultural heritage sites (i.e., Kaiping and Yongding in China), the study identifies that local residents’ localized identity and cultural self-improvement, activated by perceived authenticity of the cultural heritage, significantly stimulate their heritage responsibility. Results further reveal the positive impact of localized identity on cultural self-improvement. The mediating effect of localized identity and cultural self-improvement and the moderation effect of two heritage sites are also confirmed. Important theoretical and practical implications are discussed.