Culture, tourism and World Heritage Sites

The recognition of a place as a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO is fundamental to preserve its historical and artistic inheritance and, at the same time, to encourage visits to that area. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the study of the relationship between WHS designation and cultural tourism, with a markedly sustainable character, through the presentation of the results of research conducted in the city of Cordoba (Spain). The study analyzes the sociodemographic profile of the tourists, the variables that influence their levels of satisfaction and loyalty, and the classification of the travelers through different variables. The principal results of the research show the significant educational level of the surveyed tourists, as well as the high level of satisfaction with the visit, the high number of countries of origin and the outstanding motivation for knowing the city's heritage roots.