The challenges and new perspectives on re-interpreting the transboundary heritage for tourism, an example of the Griffins’ Route, South Baltic area

ABSTRACT

The Griffins’ Route is a new transboundary tourist project, the idea and theme of which are based on common history and cultural heritage of the Duchy of Pomerania. The studies presented show differences in the perception of the route and particular facilities. These differences depend on the visitors’ country of origin, their emotional engagement, identification with the theme, and motives behind their trip. Different priorities in the interpretation of destinations have been observed as well. Moreover, the assessment of particular facilities and their representative role regarding the regional heritage have changed depending on the knowledge about the history of a place as well as its location and distance from the border. Reasons for these differences can be found in the complex history of the region, changes in borders and migration of people, especially after the Second World War. Changes of administrative, social and cultural factors have had their impact on the sense of identity and relations with neighboring countries. This paper concentrates on the perception and interpretation of the shared heritage, as well as shaping the tourist space around transboundary cultural routes.

KEYWORDS:

• Regional heritage
• transboundary heritage
• shared heritage
• heritage tourism
• Baltic Sea

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

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Tomasz Duda

Tomasz Duda is a researcher and assistant professor at Institute of Spatial Management and Socio-Economic Geography, University of Szczecin in Poland. Engaged in his research and teaching work with geography of tourism, religious and cultural tourist routes and places, sustainable and natural tourism and interpretation of cultural and religious heritage, he is an author of over 30 journal articles and book chapters on heritage tourism and interpretation and a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage (IJRTP) as well as the Expert’s Collegium in the Regional Marshall’s Office (Regional ‘s Government Office) in Western Pomerania (Poland), concerning religious and cultural routes.