ICT adaptation of cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites towards visitors coming from China: an exploratory European case study

Abstract

The following case study presents an exploratory research project conducted in between the years 2018 and 2019. It examined the adaptation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) of several European Cultural World Heritage Sites (WHSs) to their visitors coming from China (Hasenzahl, 2019). The ICT adaptation of WHSs allows access to visitors with different cultural backgrounds to a site and can improve their experience. The methodology applied followed a mixed-method-approach, consisting of the identification of adapted media outlets, a survey with site managers, and semi-structured interviews with WHSs professionals and tourism experts. The chapter first provides an overview of the online and on-site adaptation efforts put forward by cultural WHSs in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, then it discusses the results from the interviews. The chapter concludes with three questions which practitioners could ask themselves when considering offering ICTs for foreign markets, especially in the case of tourists coming from China.