Visiting the trenches: Exploring meanings and motivations in battlefield tourism

Dunkley, R. , Morgan, N. and Westwood, S. (2011) Visiting the trenches: Exploring meanings and motivations in battlefield tourism. Tourism Management, 32(4), 860 - 868. (doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2010.07.011)

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Abstract

This paper provides insights into the motivations and experiences of tourists who visit sites associated with war and conflict, specifically 25 individuals who participated in a tour of the World War One battlefields of the Somme and Ypres. The paper discusses the narratives of four of these individuals to illustrate in detail how such battlefield tours offer opportunities for pilgrimage, collective and personal remembrance and event validation. All of the participants had a prior interest in warfare, which was a key influence on their battlefield tour experiences. For the study participants battlefield tours emerge as complex, deeply meaningful and in some cases life-changing experiences.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:Tourist motivations and experiences
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dunkley, Dr Ria
Authors: Dunkley, R., Morgan, N., and Westwood, S.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education
College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith
Journal Name:Tourism Management
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0261-5177
ISSN (Online):1879-3193
Published Online:17 August 2010

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