Remembering the Second World War in Singapore: Wartime Heritage as a Visitor Attraction

Abstract

This paper is concerned with wartime heritage as a tourism industry resource and some of the dilemmas inherent in its management and marketing as a visitor attraction, especially when those involved are still alive. Issues are discussed with specific reference to Singapore which was the scene of fighting and military occupation by Japanese forces during the Second World War. The conservation of this wartime heritage and its use for the purpose of attracting visitors is assessed, and related museums and heritage centres are reviewed. These are shown to serve important objectives of nation building and suggest that the tourism function of some wartime sites may be secondary. War, like other forms of heritage, is revealed to have a social, political and economic value that affects its presentation to audiences of tourists and residents.

Keywords:

• Singapore visitor attractions
• wartime heritage