Heritage Tourism, Wellbeing and Quality of Life: Tourist and Destination Perspectives

This chapter delves into the ways in which heritage tourism can enhance travellers’ and host communities’ wellness and quality of life. In particular, it describes three important manifestations of heritage tourism, namely pilgrimage, roots travel and archaeology-based tourism, as being particularly evidentiary of how improved quality of life can develop through heritage tourism. As people seek out their roots, deepen their personal lives and identities, and strive to grow spiritually, personal wellness improves and quality of life improves. Likewise, for heritage destinations, community pride, solidarity and empowerment manifest as indicators of increasing quality of life as a result of tourism.