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Cultural Tourism in Regions of Conflict:
The Northern Ireland Experience
Margaret Sutherland
Queens University Belfast
Introduction
Background to Conflict
• Long history of sectarian or ethnic related conflict
- divided culture / divided society/ divided spaces
• “Troubles” or civil war started in 1969
• Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998
• Ongoing violence and sectarian clashes
• Still to reach a definitive political settlement
Introduction
Background to Cultural Tourism in N.I.
• Traditional tourist market limited
- day trippers from Republic of Ireland
- visits to friends and family
- small contribution to economy
• Paramilitary ceasefires in mid 1990’s:
• Growing interest in region from independent travellers seeking something different
• Growing interest by investors resulting in quality venues
• Impact of Budget Airlines - introducing direct flights from European destinations (Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona etc.)
Motivations for Cultural Tourism
Growing Recognition by policy makers that Cultural Tourism could make a contribution to the following:
• Improve the international image and reputation of the region
• Bring economic, social and cultural benefits to the region
• Chance to promote rich cultural heritage of music, art, literature and industry to replace images of conflict and violence
• Valuable opportunity to unite a divided society - by involving local communities and politicians - in order to develop and promote cultural tourism product
• Cross community Steering groups set up to develop and promote events and festivals, provide accommodation etc
Some Issues
• Physical Evidence of Conflict
- peace lines, military installations, prisons, memorial sites
• Celebration of cultural icons of conflict
- Murals, marches, ‘martyrdom’
• How or Should such sensitive cultural heritage be “packaged”
• Places attractive to visitors are often located in socially and economically deprived neighbourhoods.
Ongoing Research
PICTURE - Pro-active Management of the Impacts of Cultural Tourism Upon Urban Resources and Economies
(EC funded 6th Framework Programme)
• Investigating socio cultural impacts of Cultural Tourism for residents
• Can Cultural Tourism strategies improve the quality of life of local residents?
• Identifying contribution which Cultural Tourism may have in image and identity of towns, villages and residents.
Further Research
• Cross community networking/ steering groups?
• Community cultural tourism initiatives (Gaeltacht Cultural Quarter in west Belfast)?
• Economic benefits to communities outweighing old hostilities?
• Visitor environmental improvements contributing to regeneration of deprived neighbourhoods?
Can Cultural Tourism foster an atmosphere conducive to stability and mediation through for example:
Northern Ireland Experience
Transferable Lessons?
Ongoing Issues
• Must be an element of Peace
• Must be local political support for initiatives (Belfast and Derry City Councils)
• Work in partnership with local communities to develop support (‘de-sensitising’ of murals, bogside artist tours etc)
• Urban planning - removing physical barriers etc
• Entrenching of stereotypes
• “Zoo Tourism”
• Continuing divisions / continuing conflict
Cultural Tourism in Regions of Conflict:
The Northern Ireland Experience
m.sutherland@qub.ac.uk
www.picture-project.com
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