The Perception of Visitors Regarding the Preserved Built Cultural Heritage: A Study of Three Restored Churches in Ouro Preto and Mariana, Minas Gerais

Purpose – This article investigates visitors' perceptions of preserved cultural heritage buildings, focusing on three recently restored churches in Minas Gerais, located in the cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana, as there are no contemporary studies that indicate how heritage restoration influenc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gonçalves, Marina Furtado, Braga, Solano de Souza, Souza Junior, Flávio Aparecido Santos, de Souza Lobo, Ramiro Guilherme, Bernardes, Matheus José Mendes
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI)
Repositorio:Turismo : Visão e Ação (Online)
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.periodicos.univali.br:article/20588
Acceso en línea:https://periodicos.univali.br/index.php/rtva/article/view/20588
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Perception of visitors
Tripadvisor
Restored churches
Ouro Preto
Mariana
Percepción de los visitantes
iglesias restauradas
Percepção dos visitantes
Igrejas restauradas
Descripción
Sumario:Purpose – This article investigates visitors' perceptions of preserved cultural heritage buildings, focusing on three recently restored churches in Minas Gerais, located in the cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana, as there are no contemporary studies that indicate how heritage restoration influences visitors' experiences. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on visitors' comments on the Tripadvisor platform, which were collected and analyzed through Discursive Textual Analysis, aiming to understand how the conservation processes affected visitors' experiences before, during, and after the restoration. The methodology adopted involved web scraping for data collection and the subsequent categorization of the comments. Findings – Before the restoration, visitors expressed dissatisfaction with the poor state of preservation of the buildings, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the churches. During the process, the lack of information regarding the works and timelines negatively impacted visitors' experiences. After the restoration, visitors emphasized the importance of valuing preserved cultural heritage and recommended visiting the sites. Research limitations/implications – Therefore, it is suggested that conservation projects include "open restoration" practices and communication strategies that keep visitors informed throughout the process. Practical implications – The conclusion is that tourists' perceptions of the conservation status of cultural heritage have a direct impact on the quality of their visiting experience. Originality/value – The study reinforces the importance of heritage education and balanced management that considers both preservation and tourism development in the cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana.