Objectives In the field of tourism studies, semi-captive wildlife tourism, as an emerging model, has gradually garnered academic interest. However, current research predominantly focuses on either fully captive or entirely wild animal tourism models, with a relative dearth of in-depth exploration into the semi-captive form. This study aimed to bridge this research gap by examining tourists' perceptual experiences of semi-captive wildlife tourism, thereby providing new theoretical perspectives and empirical data to understand its impact on tourist behavior and attitudes.

Methods This study employed qualitative research methodologies, incorporating content analysis and grounded theory, to systematically analyze online review texts from Japan's Nara Park. This approach facilitated the capture of tourists' direct perceptions and evaluations of semi-captive wildlife tourism, thereby enabling a comprehensive understanding of its multidimensional experiential characteristics.

Results The research revealed three key insights into semi-captive wildlife tourism: (1) Tourists were primarily motivated by the observation and personal experience with animals, while also paying continuous attention to the natural and cultural resources, facilities, and service management of the destination; (2) The interaction between humans and animals in a non-protective contact manner was a prominent feature of this tourism mode, effectively raising tourists' awareness of animal conservation; (3) The evaluation of the tourism experience was influenced by multiple dimensions, encompassing the characteristics of the destination, the personality of tourists, and spatiotemporal factors of the experience.

Conclusions This study not only enriched the theoretical understanding of semi-captive wildlife tourism in tourism studies but also provided an empirical foundation for promoting the sustainable development of this form of tourism. The findings underscored the importance of considering animal welfare, tourist experience, and environmental protection in an integrated manner for tourism planning and management, contributing both theoretical and practical guidance towards fostering a harmonious coexistence between the tourism industry and the natural environment.