Tourist lodging, spatial relations, and the cultural heritage of borderlands

Abstract

This research note examines how international borders have created a unique heritage context within which a number of hotels and restaurants have flourished largely because of their border locations. A spatial typology is presented of border-located lodging and food services to include establishments that lie directly on borderlines, as well as those that are located near international boundaries and whose heritage appeal is affected by their “bisected” or otherwise border-located heritagescapes. Empirical examples are presented from North America and Europe to illustrate the types of borderland establishments that appeal to visitors because of their international border heritage.

Keywords:

• borders
• boundaries
• lodging
• restaurants
• historic hotels
• accommodations

Notes on contributors

Dallen J. Timothy is Professor of Community Resources and Development and Director of the Tourism Development and Management Program at Arizona State University. He is also a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Julie Anne Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Visiting Professor at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia, and Visiting Research Professor at Beijing Union University, China. He researches many aspects of tourism, including heritage, borders and geopolitics, religion and spirituality, and global change.

Alon Gelbman is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management at Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee, Israel. His tourism research interests lie in international borders, globalization, cultural heritage, health and wellness, host–guest relationships, tourism education, urban and rural tourism, and peace studies.