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Analyzing the Perceptional Pattern of Historical Tourists Regarding Historical Sites Case Study: The Persepolis-Pasargadae Historical Range
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Mahta Saremi1   , Hassan Darabi * 2, Mohammad Javad Amiri3 , Gholamreza Nabi Bidhendi3 , Homa Irani Behbahani3 |
1- PhD student, Department of Environment, Alborz Campus of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran. (Author).
3- Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran |
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Abstract: (2008 Views) |
Abstract
Historical sites are signified as important motivation factors in the tourism industry. These destinations have been pictured in historical travelogues and base a data source for gaining knowledge about the history of these sites. But does imaging these destinations follow a pattern among its writers and can these probable patterns be similar to the patterns presented for tourism destinations? For this research the Persepolis-Pasargadae Historical Range was chosen and historical sites in this axis were selected for investigation. The purpose was to assess the perception of historical tourists in this historical range from their written travelogues. Therefore, 65 travelogues were gathered and what they had pictured from these sites was evaluated using the Grounded Theory method. Results supported the theory that the perception of historical tourists does follow a certain pattern. By comparing the resulted patterns with what is indicated as destination image, a richer concept of destination image emerged for historical sites. This new concept complemented the dimensions of the concept of destination image with in-depth and richer components. Obtained results can be considered as a basis for the development of historical tourism sites.
Key Words: Historical sites- Destination Image- Travelogues- Historical Tourists- Perception
Introduction
Historical destinations are considered as mysterious spaces that attract tourists for understanding more about the untold history. Heritage tourism is a trip aimed to learn more about the culture and heritage of a region (Pouria et al., 2003; Timothy, 2011) and gives tourists the experience to visit the surroundings, and sense the culture and history and stories among its people from the past until present (Hargrove, 2002).
The concept of destination image has developed over five decades (Pike, 2002; Tasci & Gartner, 2007; Tasci et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2014) and some researchers have accordingly utilized Gartner’s DI classification as cognitive, affective, and conative (Gartner, 1989, 1993, 1996; Zhang et al., 2014) for their research. Different models have also been presented in the analysis of historical tourism destinations. But in historical travelogues, imaging historical sites is an influential tool that has helped writers shows their experience of visiting these destinations and their sense of these places. Now the question is whether a specific pattern can be derived from travelogues that image these historical destinations and to what extent the probable pattern differs or is similar to the new patterns presented in this regard. For this purpose, the significant historical area of the Persepolis-Pasargadae Historical Range was studied. The main aim was to infer the possible perceptional pattern derived from travelogues. Therefore existing travelogues were studied and an attempt was made to pattern a model that can help visualize the historical sites based on these travelogues.
Materials and Methods
The Persepolis-Pasargadae Historical Range was chosen and four World Heritage Sites located in this range were selected for the research. Then historical travelogues that had written about these sites were studied for the research.
In this qualitative research, the methodological approach was based on grounded theory. With this approach, the travelogues that had written about the area were first reviewed and coded. By coding the elements that were extracted from these travelogues, at the first level some repetitive elements that showed the tourist's relationship with the historical environment were selected. These elements formed the next level where the structural axis was obtained. Based on the nature of the categories derived, the perceptions of the historical visitors towards these sites were obtained. Then through selective coding, factors forming the image of historical destinations were obtained.
Discussion
Results derived from this research indicate the importance of intangible elements that form the image of historical sites. The perception of historical tourists also followed a similar pattern that pictures the sense that they had experienced while visiting these sites. Therefore it can be seen that the concept of Destination Image requires additional components that can help image the sense of the place and its era and place identity so that the concept can be complemented for historical destination.
Conclusion
The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of tourists visiting historical sites in order to find possible patterns that can help structure a model for imaging historical destinations. The research shows that tourists' perceptions can follow a certain pattern that can complement the concept of destination image for historical sites. The most prominent point in this model was the importance of intangible aspects such as sense of the place and its identity and historical era, which has been basically neglected as important elements in scientific models. To achieve a more comprehensive model extensive studies are required at more historical sites and in different geographical locations. |
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| Keywords: Historical sites, Destination Image, Travelogues, Historical Tourists, Perception |
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Full-Text [PDF 1325 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2021/08/9 | Accepted: 2021/12/27 | Published: 2022/12/1
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