THE MEANINGS OF HERITAGE SITES FOR TOURISTS: THE CASE OF MASSADA

Abstract

Recent studies concerning spaces where heritage artifacts are presented claim that at the heart of tourists' behavior lies the perception of the site in relation to their own heritage. This study investigates this supposition by examining tourists' behavior at a site where heritage is only one component of the experience offered. The results of this study confirm the idea that the perception of the heritage presented is central to the understanding of the tourists' experience. Management implications are suggested based on the link between the tourists and their perception of the site.