From appraisal to word-of-mouth: affective pathways through awe and restoration in high-altitude ecocultural tourism using a mixed-methods design

Findings advance appraisal and broaden-and-build accounts by showing that positive affect in nature-culture contexts is not generic but functionally differentiated and ordered. Practically, destination design and interpretation should enhance symbolic elevation to elicit awe and strengthen ecocultural coherence to support restoration-for example through curated viewframes, respectful ritual and vernacular cues, and protected quiet and dark-sky corridors-thereby increasing recommendation intentions while preserving cultural and ecological authenticity.