2026-07-24T17:23:54.357Z http://ezaposleni.singidunum.ac.rs/rest/sciNaucniRezultati/oai

ezaposleni.singidunum.ac.rs/rest/sciNaucniRezultati/oai:2:12115 2026-07-17T18:27:30Z 2

After dark at Bran Castle: nighttime tourism as a value-added experience 2026 http://ezaposleni.singidunum.ac.rs/rest/sciNaucniRezultati/oai/record/2/12115 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14616688.2026.2704109?needAccess=true A. Vujko M. Arsić N. Radović Nighttime tourism has emerged as a distinctive form of value-added experience, extending cultural visits beyond daytime and enabling heightened emotional engagement, narrative immersion, and memorability. This study examines the dynamics of nighttime tourism through the case of Bran Castle (‘Dracula’s Castle’) in Romania, focusing on the latent constructs that shape visitor perceptions and experiential outcomes. Guided by the experience economy, dark tourism, and narrative authenticity frameworks, the research analyzes how visitor motivation, quality satisfaction, and perceived authenticity interact to generate emotional engagement and experiential value. Data were collected from 521 visitors during the 2024 high season through a structured questionnaire administered to participants in nighttime tours. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a five-factor structure comprising Visitor Motivation, Quality Satisfaction, Narrative Authenticity, Emotional Engagement, and Experiential Value. Structural equation modeling indicates that motivation functions as an initial driver, influencing perceptions of service quality and narrative authenticity, while these factors significantly predict emotional engagement. Experiential value, reflected in memorability, recommendation intentions, and future visitation, emerges as the cumulative outcome of these interrelated constructs. The findings demonstrate that experiential value in nighttime tourism is formed through a sequential and mediated process, rather than as a direct outcome of initial motivations. They highlight the critical role of emotional and narrative dimensions alongside service quality in shaping value-added experiences. The study further contributes to tourism geographies by showing how nighttime settings reconfigure the relationship between place, atmosphere, and visitor perception. In practical terms, the results offer insights for heritage destination managers seeking to design immersive nighttime tourism experiences that enhance visitor engagement and competitive positioning across international heritage contexts. article https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2026.2704109 1 22 1461-6688 Tourism Geographies