Is This the Real Deal? : Authenticity for a True Heritage Experience

Abstract: This paper aims to explore and understand how locals and tourists perceive authenticity on a truly authentic heritage site. The empirical study was conducted with a sample of Scandinavians and South Africans that had or had not visited the heritage site in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. The result indicated a correlation between authenticity and heritage experience. The most interesting finding was however when heritage was positioned somewhere else but the individuals' home countries. These findings provide insight into the ways tourists and locals perceive authenticity and the demand for heritage tourism and true authenticity, which highlights the importance of authenticity in tourism destinations.