Abstract
The present study strives to understand the travel motivations and experiences of both domestic and international travellers visiting the Gallipoli Peninsula. Qualitative research methodology was utilized for this study, with a case study approach employed for the qualitative research design. Data were gathered using face-to-face interviews (n=44), participant observation and document analysis, and an inductive content analysis was then used to analyse the data. The research findings revealed that travellers visiting the site have different motivations and experiences, as well as some commonalities. The findings also indicate that those visiting the site have different travel motivations and experiences, as well as commonalities. Their travel motivations form a heterogeneous pattern, including push and pull motivational factors, while experiences can be grouped into psychological and sociocultural categories; these are useful contributions to the existing literature in the field. As a consequence, the results of this study are unique as they show that battlefield sites within the scope of the dark tourism phenomenon may offer visitors memorable tourism experiences and socio-cultural experiences.
Highlights
Travellers’ visits to locations or landscapes related to death, disasters or atrocities, once described as dark tourism by Foley and Lennon (1996a; 1996b; Stone and Sharpley, 2008), continue to receive a great deal of attention from scholars
An analysis of the data revealed that the participants who visited the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park were influenced by different types of motivational factors, both pull and push
The findings of this study show that the factors that motivate tourists to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula can be grouped in two categories, namely push and pull motivational factors
Summary
Travellers’ visits to locations or landscapes related to death, disasters or atrocities, once described as dark tourism by Foley and Lennon (1996a; 1996b; Stone and Sharpley, 2008), continue to receive a great deal of attention from scholars. The opinions stated by the participants regarding this aspect of their history shows that the establishment of their nation state and the consequent development of a cultural identity, and the role of the battle in that process, makes the battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula important places for Australians and New Zealanders (Hall et al, 2010; Slade, 2003).
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