Battlefield Tourism as an Agent of Tourism Development

Abstract

Battlefield tourism is a growing field in tourism research. However, it focuses primarily on an activity known as Dark Tourism, the visiting of places where tragedies or death took place. It includes the development of these sites as well. Cemeteries, internment sites, and memorials relating to death and depravity are the main features of battlefield tourism. Tourism development relies primarily on good infrastructure and an attractive (tourism) environment. As a niche tourism market, battlefield tourism can actively enhance the tourism product proposition of a destination. Identifying battlefield sites, incorporating them into battlefield tourism routes, and developing them as tourist attractions can act as an agent of tourism development. Battlefield tourists are mostly retired and have time to travel. They are also highly educated and fall into the high-income group. They are primarily interested in visiting existing battlefields, which indicates that battlefield tourism has the potential to act as an agent of tourism development and growth. For battlefield tourism developers, it would be essential to know their target market. Key factors in developing a successful tourism development plan for battlefield tourism are study preparation, determination of objectives, data gathering, analysis and synthesis, policy and plan formulation, recommendations, implementation, and monitoring. Battlefields need interpretation, development, marketing, and even commercializing to act as “storyteller(s)” of the past, add value to the more extensive tourism offering of a specific area, and act as an agent of tourism development.

Citation

Proos, E. and Hattingh, J. (2024), "Battlefield Tourism as an Agent of Tourism Development", Akbulut, O., Ekin, Y., Güler, M.E. and Saribaş, Ö. (Ed.) Battlefield Tourism (Tourism Security-Safety and Post Conflict Destinations), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 157-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-990-820241012