PLS-SEM analysis of 250 international tourists in Mongolia found that heritage interpretation and tourism management supported cultural-identity preservation. Community participation, tourism management, and preserved identity were associated with sustainable development, with identity partially mediating the management–sustainability relationship.
Key findings
- Heritage interpretation and tourism management strengthened cultural-identity preservation. • Community participation directly supported sustainability but did not significantly predict identity preservation. • Cultural identity partially connected tourism management with sustainable development.
Why this matters globally
Heritage tourism policy should manage participation, interpretation quality, and identity protection rather than focusing only on visitor volume. The framework is relevant to traditional communities seeking development without cultural erosion.
Thai researcher contribution
Researchers from Sripatum University, Burapha University, and Mahasarakham University contributed to cross-border scholarship connecting heritage, culture, and the SDGs in Mongolia.
Limitations to consider
The cross-sectional sample reflects 250 tourists rather than community members. It does not directly measure economic, environmental, or long-term cultural outcomes, so associations should not be read as causal effects.