<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The inscription of an area as World Heritage Site (WHS) is of utmost significance to preserve the historical and artistic heritage and at the same time, to encourage visits to the site. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the study of the relationship between WHS and tourism by presenting the results of a research conducted in the city of Córdoba (Spain) which analyses the socio-demographic profile and motivations of tourists who visit this City, differentiating between domestic and foreign tourists. The main results of the research show the important educational level of respondent tourists, the significant number of countries of origin, the high motivation to learn about the heritage roots of the city, the importance of gastronomy as a part of its cultural identity and the high satisfaction of tourists. As a point of improvement, the results show the low level of overnight stays in the city.</p></abstract>

The inscription of an area as World Heritage Site (WHS) is of utmost significance to preserve the historical and artistic heritage and at the same time, to encourage visits to the site. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the study of the relationship between WHS and tourism by presenting the results of a research conducted in the city of Córdoba (Spain) which analyses the socio-demographic profile and motivations of tourists who visit this City, differentiating between domestic and foreign tourists. The main results of the research show the important educational level of respondent tourists, the significant number of countries of origin, the high motivation to learn about the heritage roots of the city, the importance of gastronomy as a part of its cultural identity and the high satisfaction of tourists. As a point of improvement, the results show the low level of overnight stays in the city.

Tourist motivations in a heritage destination in Spain

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Law and Business, University of Córdoba. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, Spain, C/Puerta Nueva, s/n. 14071-Córdoba,

Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Law and Business, University of Córdoba. Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, Spain, C/Puerta Nueva, s/n. 14071-Córdoba,

European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Tourist motivations in a heritage destination in Spain"}

The inscription of an area as World Heritage Site (WHS) is of utmost significance to preserve the historical and artistic heritage and at the same time, to...

Tourist motivations in a heritage destination in Spain

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 226 - 235

Received: May 15, 2016

Accepted: Nov 08, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ejthr-2016-0024

Keywords
World Heritage Site, Culture, Motivation, Satisfaction, Cordoba

© 2016 Guzmán Antonio Muñoz Fernández et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Tourist motivations in a heritage destination in Spain

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 226 - 235

Received: May 15, 2016

Accepted: Nov 08, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ejthr-2016-0024

KeywordsWorld Heritage Site, Culture, Motivation, Satisfaction, Cordoba

© 2016 Guzmán Antonio Muñoz Fernández et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
World Heritage Site, Culture, Motivation, Satisfaction, Cordoba