The Role of Learning Resulting from Students’ Experiences in Shaping Their Identity and Perception of the Significance of Smart Tourism Destination

Abstract

This research presents an analysis of the participation and interaction of 129 students from the Faculty of Teacher Training Education (University of Valencia) with tourist places cultural heritage from the Valencia city. The analysis of our students’ affective evaluation and interpretation of a touristic place through smart tourism was a major factor that impacted their perception of the cultural heritage significance of a certain place. Therefore, our findings suggest that there is a strong correlation between students’ cultural experiences, awareness and perception of a touristic place and their interpretation of the economic, social and cultural significance of the touristic places. Tourism experiences of our students contributed to transformative learning acquired by immersion in a new knowledge as a result of travelling and living in one of the most visited regions in Spain.