A Structural Relationship between Local’s Appreciation, Knowledge and Actual Visitation to Adaptive Reuse Heritage Buildings

Appreciation on adaptive reuse historical buildings (ARHB) can be stimulated by visitor’s knowledge on historical and cultural background of the building, which later translated through their actual visitation; ultimately increase their revisitation and recommendation to others. The study aims to examine the effects of appreciation and knowledge towards actual visitation to ARHB from local perspectives. This study developed and empirically tests a conceptualized model based on 241 surveys collected among local visitors at two historical buildings reused as a restaurant and event space in Kuching, Sarawak. A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) via Partial-Least Square (PLS) technique was adopted to test the hypotheses developed. The empirical findings were revealed; (1) visual elements of ARHB have significant effects on appreciation and actual visitation, (2) clarity purpose of ARHB have significant effect on appreciation but not on actual visitation, (3) appreciation have direct effects on actual visitation, (4) appreciation mediates the relationship between ARHB attributes and actual visitation, and (5) knowledge does not moderate the relationship between ARHB attributes and appreciation. The study outcomes provide additional insight on appreciation and knowledge in adaptive reuse historical buildings context in tourism and hospitality management theory and suggests, in practice, to adapt this ‘new light’ urban regeneration strategy for tourism development and sustainability.