Interpretation design and management: creating dark heritage edutainment experiences

Abstract

Existing tourism literature has explored the tourist experience through various aspects of interpretation, including its use for creating the visitor experience, visitor management, stimulating visitor interest and learning, and also the challenges in balancing interpretation efforts with concerns for historical accuracy. These efforts have provided a strong understanding of interpretation as a concept and practice, specifically in relation to natural and heritage tourism, and within museums. However, research remains under-developed in relation to interpretation of dark heritage. This chapter therefore reviews the development and processes of interpretation. It further reviews how interpretation is designed and managed within dark heritage attractions considered lighter due to their edutainment interpretation agenda. In doing so, this chapter contributes to both the research and practice of interpretation within both heritage and dark heritage contexts.