Although WW II legacy is an important niche of dark tourism, discussions about it are relatively recent in several Eastern European countries, including Latvia. Sites associated with tragic historical events such as the Holocaust have attracted the interest of foreign visitors since the fall of the Iron Curtain, especially from ...
(Show more)Although WW II legacy is an important niche of dark tourism, discussions about it are relatively recent in several Eastern European countries, including Latvia. Sites associated with tragic historical events such as the Holocaust have attracted the interest of foreign visitors since the fall of the Iron Curtain, especially from the Jewish community. In Latvia, these sites were “hidden” due to the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel policy of the Soviet period. With the growing interest of foreign tourists in Holocaust-related sites and the emergence of discussions on complex historical events, the attitudes of local inhabitants towards these sites are changing. There is little research on these processes in the context of tourism.
The study aims to describe the integration of different Holocaust sites into tourism, by assessing the attitudes of the local population towards the development of these sites, according to the interests of the local community.
The study is based on a case study in the small town of Bauska and the city of Riga, using field research and observation methods. First, primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews with residents and other stakeholders and, second, a representative survey of the Latvian population about their visits to Holocaust sites.
The study identified the levels of inclusion of Holocaust sites in tourism, revealing the main challenges and solutions of destination management organisations (DMO). The interviews showed that residents support the inclusion of Holocaust-related sites in tourism information and offers, particularly highlighting the educational importance of these sites in understanding the dark and complex events associated with them. It was stressed that appropriate methods and tools should be chosen for interpretation, communication and marking of these sites in public space. The research revealed that some of the sites are particularly sensitive and have provoked, or are likely to provoke, extensive public debate (Monument in Bauska, possible marking of the Ghetto area in Riga). Some sites interpreted differently by the public and tourists have caused conflicts even beyond Latvia's borders.
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