Integrating Smart Technologies in Heritage Interpretation of Historic Gardens for Enhancing Visitor Experiences

Historic gardens are a nation's precious natural and cultural assets but due to a lack of appropriate interpretation techniques, their heritage values are not effectively communicated, resulting in low visitor engagement and satisfaction levels. This research emphasizes the need and significance of integrating smart technologies in the heritage interpretation of historic gardens to enrich visitor experiences and achieve positive outcomes. The study examines the impact of various smart technologies, such as mobile applications, augmented reality, virtual reality and interactive displays, on different dimensions of visitor experiences, including knowledge acquisition, entertainment, accessibility, interactive communication, level of immersion, emotional connection, personalization and exploration. Ram Bagh, a historically and culturally significant garden in Amritsar, India is chosen as a case study to demonstrate how limited and outdated interpretation aids often impede visitors' understanding and appreciation of the historic garden. The research also proposes some smart technology-based interpretation techniques that can enhance visitor experiences. The study represents a novel contribution to the growing literature on smart technologies in heritage interpretation and offers valuable insights for historic garden practitioners.