Towards a theory of visitors' evaluation of historical districts as tourism destinations: Frameworks and methods

This study aims to illustrate the complex nature of visitors' evaluation of historical districts as tourism destinations and how this complex nature can be understood and investigated. The literature review suggested a theoretical framework based on relationships between visitors' mental states and a district's features. Personal interviews employing Repertory Grid Analysis and Laddering Analysis with use of photographs of a historical district in Takayama-shi, Japan were conducted with a sample of Japanese students. The results illustrate that these methods elucidate issues argued in past studies and may be effective in investigating visitors' evaluation of historical districts.