Between Interpretation and Leadership: The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in the Narrative of Tour Guides

Abstract

The article presents the problem of interpreting the heritage of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) by local guides. The text is the result of a research project aimed at investigating what influences the style of guided tours of the CEZ and, consequently, how its heritage is presented to tourists. The empirical material collected during interviews and participatory observation is analyzed in relation to the constructivist paradigm of heritage interpretation. The experience of visiting a heritage site offers visitors the opportunity to get personally involved and reflect on the past. At the same time, they require specific leadership and group management skills on the part of the interpreters. The greatest challenge that tour guides face in the Zone is to balance the safety of the visitors with their own individual interpretation of the heritage. Even more so, safety not only structures the tour's itinerary but is also a fundamental motive for universalizing the guides' narratives.