Exploring Magical Tourism: Festivals, Heritage, Storytelling, Placemaking.
The aim of this Webinar is to celebrate the launch of our recent edited volume on Magical Tourism and by exploring why tourism has taken a magical turn and identifying its potential to shape greener futures.
Our speakers will draw you into a re-enchanted world, which is paradoxically not only atmospheric, but also one of the fastest-growing niches in contemporary culture. We'll ask why the term "magic" is used so frequently when describing visitor experiences and explain why the perceived sleight-of-hand illusions of the tourism, hospitality and events industries lead to states of enchantment in visitors and what "a state of enchantment" actually means. Discover how festival fantasyscape creators use ancient traditions to generate both collective sensations and self-expression among the crowd. Learn about the impact of multi-media TV series such as The Witcher and Rings of Power on the popular imagination, where our built historic environments - including castles, ancient city walls and ruins - merges with with fairytale settings, leading to visitor impressions of "magi-heritage."
We will discuss the long tradition of magical travel and trace the various ways in which storytelling informs authentic, greener placemaking through community myths, legends and folklore. Lastly, we will examine how magical tourism also acts as a conduit for regenerative practices and mindful, healing experiences, reinforcing our connections to nature. This Webinar gives you the opportunity to re-evaluate what may seem to be a deceptively lightweight, playful, or even twee topic as a powerful force for sustainable change and resistance.See you at the link below, where the magic happens!
