Abstract
This paper examines the development of dark and political tourism within Northern Ireland. The central aim was to explore the interrelationship between both types as perceived by representatives across the private and public sector of the Northern Ireland tourist industry to determine the extent of both sectors’ willingness to collaborate in order to promote dark and political sites as tourist attractions. The investigation is based on data collected in 2008 mainly through in-depth interviewing sessions conducted with representatives of public tourist bodies, private tourist organizations, and political parties. The results indicate that most organizations recognize the importance of dark and political heritage in terms of attracting visitors to the Province and, therefore, benefiting the economy. In addition, the findings demonstrate that collaboration is welcomed by all players. However, there is confusion with regard to the respective roles and responsibilities of both public and private tourist organizations.
Original language | English |
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Type | Paper presented at the 5th Annual THRIC Conference |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 17 Jun 2009 |