Recreating Meaningful Tourism Experiences in Heritage Cities(Case Study: Neyshabur City)

Tourism experience has emerged as a central concept in contemporary tourism studies, as modern tourists increasingly seek meaningful and immersive engagements rather than simple visits to attractions. This study aims to clarify the process through which meaningful tourism experiences are formed in the historic city of Neyshabur, employing a qualitative methodology grounded in the principles of Grounded Theory. Data were gathered through semi‑structured interviews with 35 tourists and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. The analysis identified several key categories shaping meaningful experiences: the city’s historical and cultural heritage, the quality and aesthetic character of urban tourism spaces, social interactions between tourists and residents, available tourism infrastructure and services, and the influence of social media on experience formation and representation. Findings show that meaningful tourism experiences in Neyshabur arise from the interplay of spatial, cultural, social, and digital elements. Historical heritage serves as the primary source of meaning, while urban spaces provide the physical context in which experiences occur. Social interactions contribute a human and emotional layer, and social media facilitates the documentation, sharing, and reinterpretation of these experiences. Overall, the study suggests that meaningful tourism in Neyshabur is a socially constructed process shaped by the convergence of place, culture, human relations, and digital representation. These insights can support more effective urban tourism planning and management aimed at enhancing visitor experience in historic cities.