Connecting the dots between battlefield tourism and creative tourism: the case of the Peninsular War in Portugal

ABSTRACT

This exploratory research provides insights into the intersection between battlefield tourism and creative tourism in Portugal. Battlefield tourism focused on the Peninsular Wars (1807-1814) has drawn the attention of local stakeholders, although it is an under-researched academic theme. Furthermore, limited research has been undertaken about the links between battlefield tourism and creative tourism, despite its impact on communities, touristic experiences and themed events. As such, this study aims (i) to identify factors that contribute to enhancing heritage through battlefield tourism and how heritage-themed tourism events like re-enactments and historical recreations play an important role in the touristic activation of a community and (ii) to clarify the role of stakeholders, creative tourism experiences and tourist perceptions as part of battlefield tourism development. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with stakeholders (tourism agents, guides and tour operators), findings reveal that stakeholders value re-enactments and ‘living history’ as part of the creative experience, promoting interactive, diverse and more enriching contact with local cultures. Creative tourism appears as a key driver in the success of tourism in these destinations, enhancing the participation of local communities, network cooperation, sustainable development, local identity and memory. Finally, theoretical contributions and new lines of investigation are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Battlefield tourism
• creative tourism
• Napoleonic military tourism
• historical re-enactments
• Peninsular Wars

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the anonymous reviewers and editors for all the important insights.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marco António Noivo

Marco António Noivo is a certified Tourist Guide and university lecturer in Tourism since 2005. Master in Art and Heritage, he specialized in the historical-military heritage of the Lines of Torres Vedras. Since 2015 he is affiliated with the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (Lisboa), teaches in the Tourism degree and coordinates the Postgraduation in Tour Guiding-ULHT. His research is dedicated to Military Tourism and in particular to the Napoleonic period. He is a Ph.D. student in Tourism at the University of Seville where he is affiliated since 2019, and investigates Battlefield Tourism in the Battlefields of Portugal and Spain of the Peninsular Wars.

Álvaro Lopes Dias

Álvaro Lopes Dias is a full Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Universidade Lusófona/TRIE and ISCTE-IUL, Lisbon, Portugal. He holds two Ph.Ds. one in Management and Marketing and another in Tourism. He also holds postdoctoral qualifications in Management, MSc in Strategy, and MBA in International Business. He has over 26 years of teaching experience and several visiting positions in different countries and institutions including Brazil, Angola, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Finland. Professor Dias has produced extensive research in the field of Tourism and Management. His work has been published in Current Issues in Tourism, J. Sustainable Tourism, J. Brand Management or Bus. Process Management J.

José Luis Jiménez-Caballero

José Luis Jiménez-Caballero is Graduated in Economics and Business Science, and Ph.D. thesis Doctor of Business Management (University of Sevilla).He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Seville, where he has been teaching and researching in the areas of Financial Management, Financial Systems and Markets, International Finance and Tourism.

Recent publications. Nature Tourism on the Colombian—Ecuadorian Amazonian Border: History, Current Situation, and Challenges; en Sustainability,13(8):4432

‘The impact of the Web Summit on Hotel Performance, the case of Lisbon’, in Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, November 2021, 1-14.