Sensescapes and attention restoration in nature-based tourism: Evidence from China and Australia

Abstract

Several prior single-location case studies have found that the sensescape of a natural environment contributes to visitors' attention restoration. This study tests the effects of a soundscape and a visualscape on attention restoration using data from two natural destinations, Purple Mountain in China and Burleigh Heads Beach in Australia. The results indicate that the characteristics of a soundscape significantly contribute to visitors' attention restoration and quality of life directly and through the mediation of visualscape. Natural environments relate to visitors' quality of life through its multimodal sensescape. Critically, the attention restoration model is found to be applicable in different natural contexts, revealing that the restorative value of a natural sensescape is not contextually bound. Nature-based tourism can be used to promote mental health in the post-COVID-19 period worldwide.