A Framework for Facilitating Experiential Learning in Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism provides rich opportunities for experiential learning, but a framework to foster such learning is lacking. This study introduces the "learning behaviors-interactive scenarios" framework to explore key facilitators of experiential learning in cultural tourism. Through a literature review, it outlines key learning behaviors in cultural tourism--seeking challenges, critical reflection, and immersive engagement--that drive Kolb's experiential learning model. It examines how activity, information, and interaction scenarios influence these behaviors and enhance learning outcomes. A case study of the Sancai Town Tourism App illustrates the framework's application, with survey results confirming its effectiveness in enhancing cultural understanding. This study addresses three research questions, contributing to a theoretical framework that integrates situational factors with individual learning behaviors, enhancing understanding of experiential learning in cultural tourism and offering insights into its digital transformation.