How heritage experiences foster tourist well-being and sustainable pro-environmental behavior: the mediating role of mindfulness

This study examines the psychological mechanism by which heritage appreciation influences tourists’ well-being and pro-environmental behavior, investigating the mediating role of mindfulness. Drawing on Attention Restoration Theory, the study proposes that heritage environments foster mindful engagement, which transforms heritage appreciation into both psychological and behavioral outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among tourists visiting cultural heritage sites in Nanjing and Suzhou, China. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to examine the proposed direct and indirect relationships. The findings demonstrate that heritage appreciation significantly enhances both tourist well-being and pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, mindfulness significantly mediates these relationships, indicating that heritage appreciation promotes positive individual and behavioral outcomes primarily by increasing present-moment awareness. The results confirm mindfulness as a key psychological mechanism through which restorative heritage experiences translate into enhanced well-being and environmentally responsible behavior. This study extends Attention Restoration Theory by identifying mindfulness as the central psychological mechanism linking heritage appreciation with both personal and societal outcomes. It advances heritage tourism research by integrating psychological restoration and sustainable behavior within a unified conceptual framework. From a practical perspective, the findings suggest that heritage destination managers should design immersive, reflective visitor experiences that cultivate mindfulness, thereby enhancing visitor well-being, encouraging environmentally responsible behavior, and supporting the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage destinations.

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