Promoting coastal communities through cultural tourism: the case of fishing communities in Brunswick County, North Carolina

ABSTRACT

Heritage tourism, if planned based on the needs and values of communities, can benefit both tourists and residents. In coastal areas especially, urban and industrial developments may create negative impacts on historic coastal communities and their traditional way of life. This research attempts to identify and highlight the value of coastal cultural heritage, in particular commercial fishing heritage, for the promotion of cultural tourism. This study investigates whether commercial fishing heritage can provide an authentic cultural tourism to benefit local fishing communities. Fishing communities in southeastern North Carolina are in decline due to different factors including the shortage of fish, new fishing legislation and restrictions and urban development. Therefore, their traditional environment is fading away. This research attempts to highlight the important role of fishing cultural heritage in promoting cultural tourism for sociocultural benefits. The present study examines the level of tourist interest in fishing heritage and cultural places in the four fishing towns of Varnamtown, Shallotte, Holden Beach, and Southport in Brunswick County, North Carolina.

KEYWORDS:

• Commercial fishing
• heritage tourism
• traditional communities

Acknowledgements

The author appreciates all the help and support that she received from her advisors at East Carolina University, including Drs Hans Vogelsong, Lynn Harris, and David Griffith. Also, thanks to Kevin Pulliam for editing the text, and many thanks to the University of West Florida, Florida Public Archaeology Network, especially Drs William Lees and Della Scott-Ireton for their scientific support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Dr Sorna Khakzad is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the University of West Florida and the Florida Public Archaeology Network. Sorna earned a doctoral degree in engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium (2015) and a second doctoral degree in Coastal Resources Management from East Carolina University (2016). She has an MSc in Architecture from Azad University in Iran (2004) and an Advanced Masters in Conservation of Monuments and Historic Sites from KU Leuven (2008). Her interdisciplinary research focuses on coastal cultural-natural resource management and traditional communities. Sorna has worked on international projects in the Middle East, Europe, United States, and UNESCO.

ORCID

Sorna Khakzad http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6818-6575