Reflections on tourists’ experiential engagement with Scotland’s whisky heritage

ABSTRACTThis study investigates how tourists engage with heritage at contemporary experiential sites that have become popular amongst visitors and vital ambassadors of a destination’s heritage. Grounded in the theoretical concept of engagement from an andragogical standpoint, the study utilizes and critically examines reviews from a specific interactive and technologically- advanced whisky experience in Edinburgh, Scotland, namely the Scotch Whisky Experience. Findings expose strong heritage appreciation among visitors, yet challenges exist in engagement despite the optimization of sine qua non human and technologically advanced means. A conceptual diagram of heritage engagement for academic and tourism stakeholders’ consideration is provided, re-enforcing its applicability in contexts beyond the heritage sphere. Theoretical understandings of heritage engagement that ought to be extended beyond visitors’ personal experiential gain and value are also discoursed.HighlightsAdopts a unique theoretical engagement approach that enables deep visitor engagement.Exposes andragogy (method of adult learning) as a form of engagement and knowledge acquisition.Elucidates outcomes of engagement at contemporary experiential heritage attractions.Highlights the constructs of immersion, relation, creation and donation in engagement.KEYWORDS: Engagementheritagenetnographytourist experienceplace Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsProkopis A. ChristouProkopis Christou is an Assistant Professor of Tourism at the Cyprus University of Technology. His main research interests include tourist experience in contemporary society.Dallen J. TimothyDallen J. Timothy is Professor and Senior Sustainability Scientist at Arizona State University. He also holds visiting professorships in China, Spain, and South Africa.Katerina PericleousKaterina Pericleous has research interests that embrace experimental designs, statistical modeling, applied statistics, econometrics, and probability theory.