Visitors’ Perception of Maritime Museums: Preference Analysis

Abstract

The article considers the results of a sociological survey devoted to the analysis of preferences and perception of maritime museums by their potential visitors. The topic of maritime heritage and its museification is relevant due to a number of strategic documents devoted to the development of activities aimed at marine resources and affecting the preservation and actualization of maritime heritage. Although there are studies devoted to maritime museums in Russia and abroad, the attitude of visitors to this kind of expositions has not been studied before. This lacuna, along with the need to develop maritime museums, determined the purpose of this work — to analyze the visitor’s perception of the topics presented in the expositions of maritime museums.The study is based on a sociological survey (20 topics were presented in the questionnaire). The sample size was 500 people, including 171 men and 329 women. The average age of the respondents was 32 (±11) years in the range from 12 to 74 years. The majority of the respondents live in the Central and North-Western Federal Districts. Slightly more than a quarter of the respondents work in museums or are associated with cultural and tourism institutions. The article analyzes the estimated results in accordance with the respondents’ age, gender, as well as their involvement in museum activities.The results of the research can be applied within the framework of scientific and exposition activities – in particular, when creating scientific concepts for new expositions and exhibitions dedicated to maritime heritage. In addition, they can be used in preparation of training courses dedicated to the study, preservation and museification of maritime heritage.