Interactive Network of Authenticity

H1, H2, and H3 investigated the interactive relationships among three types of

authenticity. Explanation is provided for the effect of dispositional authenticity on subjective object-based authenticity, dispositional authenticity on imaginary authenticity, and subjective object-based authenticity on imaginary authenticity.

5.4.1.1 Dispositional Authenticity on Subjective Object-based Authenticity

H1 hypothesized that dispositional authenticity positively influenced subjective object-based authenticity. High authentic living and low accepting external influence (reversely coded,

166

reflecting high resistance against external pressure) had significant effects on both the built and non-built environment. These results support the main argument for H1, which stated that those who tend to act along their true feelings and thoughts were more likely to pick up the

traditional/original cues in the destination. However, low self-alienation (reversely coded, reflecting high self-awareness) significantly influenced perception of traditional/original cues in the built environment, but not the non-built environment. This result could be explained by the varying degree of subjective object-based authenticity in these two environments. That is, the built environment is a more straightforward presentation of the traditional/original cues than the non-built environment, which might take time or a certain level of background knowledge, hence the different outcomes in this hypothesis.

In conclusion, results for H1 suggested that: 1) those who were prone to acting along their feelings and thoughts were more likely to perceive the traditional/original cues in the destination;

and 2) the built environment is a more straightforward presentation of traditional/original cues than the non-built environment.

5.4.1.2 Dispositional Authenticity on Imaginary Authenticity

H2 hypothesized that dispositional authenticity positively influenced imaginary authenticity. High authentic living and low accepting external influence (reversely coded, reflecting high resistance against external pressure) had significant effects on both a sense of nostalgia and a sense of ideal life. These results support the main argument of H2, which states that a stronger pursuit of one’s true self leads to a stronger connection to local culture and history, as well as an escapism to an ideal lifestyle. Nonetheless, low self-alienation (reversely

167

coded, reflecting high self-awareness) had no significant effects on either a sense of nostalgia or a sense of ideal life. This result could be explained by the varying degree of respondents’ pre-conditioned identification with the culture and history of certain destinations. H2 was formed with three studies: Andriotis (2011), Zhou et al. (2015), and Conran (2006), which happened to only account for travelers identifying intensely with their visited destinations. For example, Andriotis (2011) depicted pilgrims traveling to a historical town in Greece featuring the religion they had already converted to; Zhou et al. (2015) studied residents of an ancient town who already felt strongly belonged to their homeland; and Conran (2006) investigated the Western trekkers visiting remote aboriginal tribes in Thailand who were already worshipping a pre-modernized lifestyle prior to the trip. These studies support that when people have high self-awareness, which also happen to align with the destination, they are likely to experience

connection with local culture and tradition, and appreciate the local life as a desirable alternative lifestyle. In the case of the present study, however, respondents were primarily white (55.3% for Mexico, 75.2% for Italy, and 68.3% for China), who are highly individualistic and self-aware (Hofstede, 2011; Hofstede Insights, 2019a), but their self-awareness may not happen to align with the culture and history of the three designated destinations that covered the European, Hispanic, and Asian culture. This misalignment may be the reason why self-alienation did not significantly influence imaginary authenticity.

To conclude, results for H2 revealed that: 1) a stronger intention of behaviorally staying true to oneself leads to a stronger sense of connection with local culture and history, and the escapism of leading an ideal life; and 2) tourists’ self-awareness should align with the culture and history of the destination to result in imaginary authenticity.

168

5.4.1.3 Subjective Object-based Authenticity on Imaginary Authenticity

H3 hypothesized that subjective object-based authenticity positively influenced imaginary authenticity. The traditional/original cues of the non-built environment significantly influenced both a sense of nostalgia and a sense of ideal life. These results support the main argument of H3, which states that the subjective object-based cues lead to visitors’ perceived connection to local culture and history and escapism to an ideal life. Nevertheless, the traditional/original cues of the built environment significantly affected a sense of nostalgia but not a sense of ideal life. These results could be explained by the different level of identification it requires to form a sense of nostalgia and a sense of ideal life. That is, a connection with local culture or history might be easily perceived as long as tourists are exposed to traditional/original cues, but an escapism to an ideal life requires visitors’ intense appreciation of local culture to consider it as an “ideal” and worth-living alternative life. This logic mimics the explanation for H2, where the dominance of white respondents might prevent them from sincerely embracing the non-US culture of the three destinations as truly ideal. A quick review of the studies supporting H3 supports this argument.

McIntosh and Prentice (1999) interviewed and surveyed “British tourists” on site of a Britain-based coal-mining history theme park, who were most likely already familiar with and nostalgic about the coal-mining era. Similarly, Grayson and Martinec (2004) studied zealous fans for their perception of the originality cues in Shakespeare and Sherlock Homes’ old home, who obviously already identified themselves strongly with their visited era as romantic and ideal. From a

wholesome perspective, results of H3 showed that the non-built environment affected imaginary authenticity, while the built environment only affected a sense of nostalgia. This result could also be interpreted as the incompleteness of the built environment due to a lack of human elements.

The tourist-staff and tourist-tourist interaction in the non-built environment probably provided

169

visitors with deeper insights for local culture, history, and lifestyle than did the descriptive, static built environment.

To sum up, results for H3 reflected that: 1) the traditional/original cues of the built and non-built environment both lead to visitors’ perceived connection to local culture and history, as well as an escapism to an ideal life; 2) a sense of nostalgia may be triggered by exposure to traditional/original cues, but a sense of ideal life requires a higher level of identification or attachment with the destination; and 3) human interaction may mediate the effect of the built and non-built environment on imaginary authenticity.