Heritage Sites and Wellbeing

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines the impact of heritage sites, especially historic houses, historic estates and buildings, and archaeological sites on visitor subjective wellbeing. It explores the hypothesis that physical engagement in heritage sites, through visiting and participating in experiences within these places, including storied experiences and interpretative narratives, can benefit visitors’ subjective well-being. Through thematic and statistical analysis of quantitative and qualitative data collected from six heritage sites in the United States, United Kingdom, and India, research explored how visiting heritage sites impacts on visitors’ personal and social wellbeing at both a contextual and sector wide level. Through comparative analysis differences and overarching patterns in data between diverse heritage sites, this chapter identified the specific attribute of wellbeing heritage sites changed, and the strategies and practices at these heritage sites which positively impact visitor wellbeing.