Aija VAN DER STEINA, University of Latvia, Latvia
Maija ROZITE, University of Latvia, Latvia
Over the last decade, the local inhabitants’ attitudes towards tourism development have been studied not only by researchers but also by many destination managers. But little research exists on attitudes towards the darkest sites of dark tourism. These places of difficult or dissonant heritage are to some extent associated with potential conflict, as the same historical events and places may be perceived and interpreted differently by different audiences. The support and involvement of the local community is one of the preconditions for sustainable tourism development, and therefore research into attitudes towards incorporating such difficult heritage into tourism is particularly important. Similar to other Eastern European countries, certain tragic WWII events still remain sensitive topics in Latvia, although sites related to Jewish heritage and the Holocaust are attracting international tourist interest. This empirical study reveals Latvian residents’ attitudes towards Jewish heritage and Holocaust-related sites, their incorporation into tourism and their own knowledge and experience during such visits. The study used a mixed-method approach. Aspects regarding visits and attitudes of Latvians to Holocaust-related sites were ascertained through a representative sample survey (n = 1000). In turn, a case study of Bauska including in-depth interviews (n = 20) was conducted to ascertain the attitude towards DMO / municipal initiatives regarding the inclusion of difficult heritage in tourism. The research results reveal the experience of Latvians visiting Holocaust sites, their attitudes towards the “opening” of these sites to international tourists and making these sites more visible in tourism information and the public space. Differences in the experience, behaviour, and attitudes of locals according to criteria such as age, nationality, place of residence and knowledge of these historical events were also explored.
Mots clés : Resident attitudes|tourism development|dark tourism|difficult heritage|Holocaust sites
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