Page 221 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 221
Concluding Remarks
thus become simpler. However, answers to previous research questions
show that this did not happen in Istria. The memorial context absolutely
dominates in comparison to tourism.
The development of dark tourism offers many new opportunities to
Istrian society and economy, as well as some serious issues (or even haz-
ards). First, Istria is the most developed trans-border Croatian and Slove-
nian region in terms of tourism, with a developed tourism infrastruc-
ture in already recognisable tourist centres. The constant introduction of
interesting attractions/special sites that would also attract tourists out-
side of the high season (365-day tourist destination) is a global trend that
needs to be followed. The identified Istrian dark tourism (and/or memo-
rial) sites have that potential and their (additional) favourable attribute
is their location, in many cases outside recognisable tourist centres – see
Figures 7.1 and 8.1 – where the infrastructure is, however, less developed
(strategic weakness). History-centric memorial/dark events can be in-
teresting for developers of tourism services. The development process
should address infrastructure issues, knowledge (about event and memo-
rial site management, entrepreneurship, information and communica-
tion technology), and fundraising (e.g. e u, national, regional or other
funds) in order to motivate local people to join, and thus to realise their
ideas (potential). MacCannell in Seaton (1999) listed five steps of creation
of a tourism attraction, which should be followed by developers in Istria
as well: naming, sight sacralisation, framing and elevation, enshrinement,
and mechanical and social reproduction.
From the marketing perspective and according to the results of this
research, the target markets for (history-centric) memorial/dark events
should primarily be Slovenia, Croatia (domestic visitors, including youn-
ger generations), or visitors from the multicultural Upper Adriatic basin.
The favourable fact is that each nation in Istria does not only have its
own memorial/dark events, but there are also events that are common
(transcultural memory preservation). Authentic multiculturalism (e.g.
common grounds, multilingual events, performers from different Up-
per Adriatic countries) as a characteristic feature of these events, should
be interesting for visitors as well. However, many Istrian memorial/dark
events held by Italians, especially those related to the esuli, are more or less
one-dimensional: they expose the Italian identity and victims, are mono-
lingual, etc. Regardless of that characteristic, there is a lot of tourism po-
tential in these events as well.
As mentioned in this research, not only many Istrian Italians, but also
221
thus become simpler. However, answers to previous research questions
show that this did not happen in Istria. The memorial context absolutely
dominates in comparison to tourism.
The development of dark tourism offers many new opportunities to
Istrian society and economy, as well as some serious issues (or even haz-
ards). First, Istria is the most developed trans-border Croatian and Slove-
nian region in terms of tourism, with a developed tourism infrastruc-
ture in already recognisable tourist centres. The constant introduction of
interesting attractions/special sites that would also attract tourists out-
side of the high season (365-day tourist destination) is a global trend that
needs to be followed. The identified Istrian dark tourism (and/or memo-
rial) sites have that potential and their (additional) favourable attribute
is their location, in many cases outside recognisable tourist centres – see
Figures 7.1 and 8.1 – where the infrastructure is, however, less developed
(strategic weakness). History-centric memorial/dark events can be in-
teresting for developers of tourism services. The development process
should address infrastructure issues, knowledge (about event and memo-
rial site management, entrepreneurship, information and communica-
tion technology), and fundraising (e.g. e u, national, regional or other
funds) in order to motivate local people to join, and thus to realise their
ideas (potential). MacCannell in Seaton (1999) listed five steps of creation
of a tourism attraction, which should be followed by developers in Istria
as well: naming, sight sacralisation, framing and elevation, enshrinement,
and mechanical and social reproduction.
From the marketing perspective and according to the results of this
research, the target markets for (history-centric) memorial/dark events
should primarily be Slovenia, Croatia (domestic visitors, including youn-
ger generations), or visitors from the multicultural Upper Adriatic basin.
The favourable fact is that each nation in Istria does not only have its
own memorial/dark events, but there are also events that are common
(transcultural memory preservation). Authentic multiculturalism (e.g.
common grounds, multilingual events, performers from different Up-
per Adriatic countries) as a characteristic feature of these events, should
be interesting for visitors as well. However, many Istrian memorial/dark
events held by Italians, especially those related to the esuli, are more or less
one-dimensional: they expose the Italian identity and victims, are mono-
lingual, etc. Regardless of that characteristic, there is a lot of tourism po-
tential in these events as well.
As mentioned in this research, not only many Istrian Italians, but also
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