From Engagement to Immersion: A Self-Determination Theory and Approach to Gamified Cultural Tourism

From Engagement to Immersion: A Self-Determination Theory and Approach to Gamified Cultural Tourism

From Engagement to Immersion: A Self-Determination Theory and Approach to Gamified Cultural Tourism

Lusha Huang, Yuxiang Wang

Abstract

"In a rapidly growing economy, contemporary tourists are increasingly drawn to unique cultural encounters; this highlights the significance of innovative approaches in pro-moting cultural tourism. This paper, which relies on self-determination theory, adopts a mixed-methods approach, amalgamating text mining with quantitative and qualita-tive methodologies, to dissect the interplay of gamification in enhancing engagement within immersive cultural tourism, with a concentrated lens on the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. Immersive experiences, intricately crafted from profound narra-tives, engender deep-seated connections between participants and the embedded tales. Concurrently, the strategic deployment of gamification, while leveraging game mechanics, acts as a potent catalyst in bolstering engagement levels, serving as a conduit to heightened immersion. Rooted in motivational psychology, the tenets of self-determination theory emerge as in-dispensable when applied to game mechan-ics, fostering a richer, more holistic engagement and experience. This harmonious confluence of immersive narratives, gamification techniques, and self-determination principles not only augments engagement but, as underscored in this study, pro-pels it toward deeper immersion, satisfying the intricate psychological cravings of tourists. This research provides an illustrative case study that contributes to the ongo-ing academic and industry discourse through a detailed analysis of selected immersive cultural tourism exemplars. In doing so, the paper paves the way for a more synchro-nized trajectory in cultural tourism, emphasizing the transition “From Engagement to Immersion” and underscoring the pivotal role of self-determination theory in gamified cultural tourism endeavours."

Reference

Huang, L., & Wang, Y. (2023). From engagement to immersion: A self‑determination theory and approach to gamified cultural tourism. In Emerging technologies and future of work (Vol. 117, pp. 277–288). AHFE International. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1004428

Keywords

Self-determination theory, Immersive experiences, Gamification