Short answer

Design and develop tourism offerings around strong, focused heritage narratives, ensuring all stakeholders understand their contributions to a cohesive and beneficial visitor experience.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE) (2010)
Method: Qualitative research, stakeholder interviews
Evidence: Moderate effect

By strategically focusing on specific heritage narratives and fostering clear roles among stakeholders, religious heritage tourism can unlock significant regional economic benefits. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2010 study published in University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE). Using Qualitative research, stakeholder interviews, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design and develop tourism offerings around strong, focused heritage narratives, ensuring all stakeholders understand their contributions to a cohesive and beneficial visitor experience.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Religious heritage tourism can drive regional development through focused stakeholder collaboration.

By strategically focusing on specific heritage narratives and fostering clear roles among stakeholders, religious heritage tourism can unlock significant regional economic benefits.

University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE) · 2010

Key Findings

01A high level of cooperation exists among stakeholders in the religious heritage tourism industry.
02Clarity is needed regarding the specific roles each sector can play within the industry.
03There is a potential for regional development by focusing on specific heritage narratives, such as that of St. Patrick.

Application

Design takeaway

Design and develop tourism offerings around strong, focused heritage narratives, ensuring all stakeholders understand their contributions to a cohesive and beneficial visitor experience.

How to apply

Identify a unique historical or cultural narrative within a region and develop a tourism strategy that clearly defines the roles of local businesses, cultural institutions, and government bodies in promoting and managing the experience.

Project actions

01When researching a heritage site for a design project, identify its most compelling narrative.
02Consider how different stakeholders (e.g., local businesses, historical societies) could contribute to a tourism experience.
03Map out potential roles and responsibilities for each stakeholder group.

Method & Evidence

AimTo assess the opportunities, benefits, and obstacles in developing religious heritage tourism in Northern Ireland by examining stakeholder perspectives on demand, supply, and collaboration.

MethodQualitative research, stakeholder interviews

ProcedureThe study involved gathering views from various stakeholders within the religious heritage tourism sector in Northern Ireland to understand current dynamics and future potential.

ContextCultural tourism, regional development, Northern Ireland

Variables

IV["Focus on specific heritage narratives","Level of stakeholder collaboration and role clarity"]

DV["Opportunities for religious heritage tourism","Benefits (e.g., economic)","Obstacles to development"]

CV["Geographical location (Northern Ireland)","Type of heritage (religious)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Examines a specific niche within tourism.
+Considers multiple perspectives through stakeholder views.

Limitations

The findings are specific to the context of religious heritage tourism in Northern Ireland and may not directly apply to other types of tourism or geographical locations.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliance on stakeholder views provides rich qualitative data but may be subject to individual biases. The findings' validity would be strengthened by triangulating with economic data or visitor numbers.

Think critically

To what extent can a single narrative dominate a heritage tourism strategy without alienating other potential visitor interests or local heritage assets?

Design Principles

"Focused heritage narratives, coupled with clear stakeholder roles, are essential for successful and economically beneficial tourism development."

This insight is crucial for designers and strategists involved in cultural tourism and regional development. It highlights the potential for well-defined heritage attractions to act as catalysts for economic growth, provided there's a concerted and collaborative effort from all involved parties.

What This Means for Your Design

If you want to make a tourist attraction successful, pick one cool story (like a famous person or event) and make sure everyone involved knows exactly what they need to do to help promote it and make it great for visitors.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of narrative focus and stakeholder collaboration in your design project's context analysis or strategy development.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that the development of heritage tourism can be significantly enhanced by focusing on specific, compelling narratives and ensuring clear collaboration among all stakeholders. This approach has the potential to drive regional economic development by creating a cohesive and attractive visitor experience, as demonstrated in studies of religious heritage tourism.

Source

University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE)

The development of religious heritage tourism in Northern Ireland: Opportunities, benefits and obstacles

journal · 2010

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about religious heritage tourism can drive regional development through focused stakeholder collaboration?: Design and develop tourism offerings around strong, focused heritage narratives, ensuring all stakeholders understand their contributions to a cohesive and beneficial visitor experience. Evidence: University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE) (2010).
Why does "Religious heritage tourism can drive regional development through focused stakeholder collaboration." matter for design?: This insight is crucial for designers and strategists involved in cultural tourism and regional development. It highlights the potential for well-defined heritage attractions to act as catalysts for economic growth, provided there's a concerted and collaborative effort from all involved parties.
How can designers apply this research?: Design and develop tourism offerings around strong, focused heritage narratives, ensuring all stakeholders understand their contributions to a cohesive and beneficial visitor experience.
What were the main findings?: A high level of cooperation exists among stakeholders in the religious heritage tourism industry.. Clarity is needed regarding the specific roles each sector can play within the industry.. There is a potential for regional development by focusing on specific heritage narratives, such as that of St. Patrick.
What research method was used?: Qualitative research, stakeholder interviews.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2010 journal from University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE).
What should I do differently in my next project?: Identify a unique historical or cultural narrative within a region and develop a tourism strategy that clearly defines the roles of local businesses, cultural institutions, and government bodies in promoting and managing the experience.
What are the limitations?: The study's focus on Northern Ireland may limit generalizability to other regions. The specific heritage narrative of St. Patrick might be too dominant, potentially overshadowing other important stories.