The growing demand for authentic experiences has positioned authenticity as a central concept in heritage tourism. However, existing research frequently treats authenticity as a direct predictor of satisfaction, offering limited insight into the experiential mechanisms through which authenticity emerges. This study addresses this gap by examining how existential experiential states shape perceptions of authenticity and subsequently influence hedonic and eudaimonic well-being and tourist satisfaction. Using a mixed-method approach, 1,254 TripAdvisor reviews of Jamaican heritage attractions were analyzed. Linguistic indicators of experiential constructs were quantified using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), and relationships among intrapersonal state, interpersonal state, authenticity, hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being, and satisfaction were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results reveal distinct experiential pathways: intrapersonal states enhance perceived authenticity and both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, whereas interpersonal states primarily stimulate hedonic well-being. Authenticity mediates the relationship between experiential states and satisfaction, providing theoretical insight into how tourism experiences generate both pleasure-driven and meaning-driven outcomes. These findings also offer practical guidance for designing heritage experiences that foster personal immersion and meaningful social interaction, thereby strengthening authenticity and visitor well-being.
Chamberlain et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: