The role of history and identity discourses in cross-border tourism destination development: A Vogtland case study

Abstract

Cross-border tourism governance processes have remained complex despite increasing permeability of European borders in the last decades. While it has been suggested that the presence of cross-border socio-cultural connections may alleviate border-related tourism management complexities, no detailed studies have been conducted yet to explore this assumption. This paper analyses the role of socio-cultural relations and history and identity discourses in destination development of the cross-border Vogtland region between the federal states of Saxony and Thuringia (Germany). Results of the mixed-method case study indicate that even though financial incentives remain central for cooperation, mobilising an identity discourse facilitates cross-border tourism governance in three ways: through (i) reducing the perception among stakeholders that administrative borders pose barriers for cooperation; (ii) internal stimulation of discussion of socio-economic and identity futures, and (iii) external presentation of a univocal destination image, thereby reducing marketing ambiguity and re-fuelling internal regional identity performativity. These effects are critically dependent on political decisions and the integrative institutionalisation of diverse stakeholders' voices in the destination development and management process. Capitalising on place identities may facilitate cross-border destination development but may also create pitfalls to safeguard the regional integration of stakeholders in this process.

Attitudes of the Local Population in Border Municipalities on Development of Sport-Event Tourism

“…Development potentials of sport-event tourism are indicators for tourism stakeholders (Devine & Devine, 2011;Getz & Page, 2016), which should intensify their focus on promoting and strengthening the promotion of "Drinska regatta" as sport-event of regional and interregional importance. Thus, the benefits of developing and implementing the sport-event tourism are numerous (Arnegger & Herz, 2016) and they should not be neglected within the researched region. It could be concluded that education of the local community is important for the development of sport-event tourism, (Woo et al, 2015), and should be the first step, regarding the fact that for the majority of the respondents sport-event tourism is not developed appropriate.…”

“…W. Ritchie et al, 2009; Weaver & Lawton, 2013), and the participation of the local population in enriching the tourism content in accordance with demands of the modern tourists. Numerous authors (Blasco et al, 2014b; Gelbman & Timothy, 2011; Jimber del Río et al, 2017; Stoffelen & Vanneste, 2018; Studzieniecki et al, 2016; Weidenfeld, 2013) indicated potentials, perspectives, and guidelines for further realization of sport-event tourism within the cross-border municipalities, including the benefits that the local community and domicile population might achieve of further development of sport-events.…”

“…Development of sport-events could help in achieving tourism effects and goals with different socioeconomic significance for the city, region, or the entire state where they are organized (Egresi & Kara, 2014;Getz & Page, 2016;Martin & Barth, 2013;Panfiluka, 2015;Ziakas & Costa, 2011). They can also contribute in creating a positive image of destination (Arnegger & Herz, 2016;Lopez-Bonilla et al, 2008;Rojas-Mendeza et al, 2019). To determinate an importance of sport-events as elements of overall tourism in border municipalities (independently or integrally with the other aspects of tourism destination), the main subject of this article was identifying the attitudes of the local population role and their involvement in creating and presenting tourism contents at tourism market (Bjeljac et al, 2017;Kovačević & Plavša, 2011).…”

Local responses to state-led municipal reform in the Finnish-Swedish border region: conflicting development discourses, culture and institutions

“…In the context of municipal mergers, actors mobilise and select different scales, development discourses and institutional structures to give coherence and legitimacy to their political opinions and practices concerning the territorial 'base unit' of regional development and planning, be it the municipality, the planned merged of a municipality, a cross-border region or something else. It is noteworthy, however, that actors may select a certain scale and development discourse, such as CBC, and adapt its related lexicon and rhetoric in pursuing and funding their own local interests and strategies which may not in themselves be so directly related to the wider policy objectives of the European Union, such as European economic integration or transnationalisation (Johnson 2009;Luukkonen 2011;Prokkola et al 2015;Stoffelen & Vanneste 2017). Thus, as Gonzales (2006, 853) aptly points out, "the language and rhetoric are not mere accessories"; through discursive strategies actors are normalising the space of regional development to make their political decisions seem as selfexplanatory as possible (Gonzales 2006).…”

“…Actors in Tornio see CBC as a better development strategy for improving regional competitiveness, which in this case means attracting investors, visitors, publicity, etc., rather than co-operation or amalgamation with other regional municipalities. Mobilisation of regional history and identity has become an important means in improving regional attractiveness (Paasi 2013;Stoffelen & Vanneste 2017). The narrative on the identity of the Torne River Valley has become an important part of marketing and development rhetoric (Jakola 2016).…”