Evaluating visitor satisfaction in museum environments in the Middle East: the role of physical settings and emotional responses

Abstract

This study examines how physical environmental characteristics and individual visitor attributes influence satisfaction in museum settings. A comprehensive structural model integrates exhibition content, spatial configuration, thermal comfort, and visual connectivity as key environmental factors, alongside visitor characteristics such as gender, age, and education. Emotional and physiological responses–including learning, aesthetic appeal, enjoyment, and viewing fatigue–are examined as mediating variables shaping visitor experience. Survey data were collected from 760 visitors across museums in the GCC region, stratified by scale and typology. Correlation analysis, multiple regression, and structural path analysis using SPSS AMOS were employed to examine direct and indirect relationships among variables. The findings indicate that exhibition content and thermal comfort are the most influential determinants of emotional engagement and overall visitor satisfaction. Learning and enjoyment exert direct effects on satisfaction, whereas aesthetic appeal and fatigue influence satisfaction indirectly through mediated pathways. Visual connectivity among exhibition spaces also emerges as a significant architectural factor affecting visitor experience. Individual demographic characteristics show limited influence, suggesting a largely consistent environmental effect across diverse visitor groups. The results highlight the importance of prioritizing exhibition planning, spatial legibility, and environmental comfort in museum design contexts globally.