The past is a destination : outlander and film tourism at historical heritage sites

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of tourism on historical heritage sites when filming and concomitant film-associated tourism occurs there. It argues that film tourism is one of the most influential sectors in the tourism industry, which has witnessed a shift from mass, organised tourist packages towards a more specialised niche approach. The thesis critically evaluates the field of film tourism and the intersections between popular culture, literature, history, heritage and tourism. It examines the history and value of film tourism, the impact of film tourism on destination image, the film tourist profile, and the cultural value of film tourism. This phenomenon is then illustrated through a case study: the 'Outlander' (2014–) television series and its impact on historical heritage sites in Scotland. The findings suggests the creation of a new niche nexus in tourism, ‘History, Heritage, Literary and Film Tourism (HHLFT)’, to demonstrate the inseparable nature between these related fields.