Impact of the Perceived Authenticity of Heritage Sites on Subjective Well-Being: A Study of the Mediating Role of Place Attachment and Satisfaction

The aim of this study is to explore how tourists perceived authenticity influences their subjective well-being (SWB) in the context of heritage tourism via the mediating role of place attachment and satisfaction. Taking the tourists of the Palace Museum as an example, the results indicate that: (a) authenticity has a significant positive impact on place attachment and satisfaction; (b) place attachment can significantly enhance satisfaction, but different dimensions of place attachment have different effects on SWB; (c) place attachment and satisfaction play mediating roles in the relationship between authenticity and SWB. The conclusion of this study highlights the significance of authenticity in heritage tourism, and further discusses how to promote tourists SWB through the perception of authenticity.