ABSTRACT
The more connected and engaged visitors feel with a community-that is, the more memorable their experiences are, and the more unique, accessible, and authentic they feel the community and its people to be-the longer they are likely to stay, and the more likely they are to return. Longer stays and repeat visits can generate considerable economic benefits for the community. When these visitors return home, they are also more likely to tell friends about their experiences. Word-of-mouth is a very effective promotion strategy. Interpretation is a powerful way to create this type of visitor engagement.
