A Study of the M.I.T.E. Model from a Digital Empowerment Perspective: A Case Study of Intangible Cultural Heritage Revitalization Pathways in Dongsha Ancient Fishing Town

Abstract

Abstract—Against the backdrop of marine culture, this study examines strategies for activating intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in island-type historic and cultural towns. It focuses on integrating marine culture, systematically constructing immersive experience scenarios, and leveraging digital technologies (e.g., AR/VR/AI) to co-create ecological value while supporting ICH safeguarding and local development. We propose the M.I.T.E. model—marine cultural resonance, immersive heritage experience, technology integration, and ecological value co-creation—to explain how digital empowerment can transition the audience from cultural resonance to value co-creation. Using Dongsha Guyu Town (Daishan County) as a case, we designed a technology-empowered experience pathway and conducted a questionnaire-based experiment (n = 100) comparing an experimental group with a control group. Results show that the M.I.T.E.-based experience outperformed traditional exhibitions on key indicators (p < 0.001), and immersion depth (I_Depth) and ecological aesthetic value (E_Aesthetic) were the strongest predictors of ecological value co-creation. This study offers a systematic framework for activating ICH in island-type towns and provides practical insights for digitally empowered heritage tourism.