Tourism impacts and well-being in heritage tourism: the role of discrete emotions and site sustainability characteristics

Using cognitive appraisal theory (CAT) and the PERMA model of well-being as the theoretical lens, this study evaluates perceptions of tourism impacts by international visitors as predictors of different discrete emotions, perceptions of sustainability characteristics of a heritage site, travel well-being and intention to recommend the site. The conceptual model was tested on 1531 international visitors to Petra, Jordan. Results confirm that perceptions of positive and negative tourism impacts elicit different discrete emotions such as happiness, love, contentment, awe, unpleasantness and anger. Specifically, feelings of happiness, love and contentment affect visitors’ evaluation of their overall perceptions of the sustainability characteristics of the site and travel well-being. Better perceptions of site sustainability and higher levels of well-being contribute to positive intentions to recommend the site. Implications for heritage site management and sustainability of UNESCO world heritage sites are offered.