Open AccessSites related to death and disaster in cultural an tourism geography – a theoretical perspective
Author(s) -
Maija Rozīte,
Aija van der Steina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
g̦eogrāfiski raksti
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1407-5229
DOI - 10.22364/fg.18.8
Subject(s) - dark tourism , tourism , heritage tourism , the holocaust , tragedy (event) , context (archaeology) , perspective (graphical) , geography , cultural heritage , history , environmental ethics , sociology , tourism geography , social science , political science , archaeology , law , art , philosophy , visual arts
Research into tourism, a relatively new discipline, is developing, using theories and approaches from other disciplines. Extensive research is underway in Latvia on sites related to tragic historical events and death, including the use of Holocaust sites in tourism. In order to comprehensively study these dark heritage sites, previous studies related to cemeteries and death sites have been analysed. The aim of this article is to identify death sites as special places and as elements of the cultural landscape. The attitude of locals towards dark heritage sites cannot be understood without understanding the attitude towards death sites and cemeteries in the cultural context. This article gives an overview of existing research in necrography, summarising the geographical approaches used to characterise these particular sites. The studies already conducted in Latvia have been reviewed and the most relevant definitions of dark tourism and thanatourism have been identified. The main problems faced in including places of death and tragedy in tourism product promotions have been described, especially if they are related to tragic events such as the Holocaust. In conclusion, the main aspects and approaches to be used for further research into the use of Holocaust sites in tourism have been identified.