Meeting Visitor Needs at Archaeological Sites

A Multi-Site Study on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coast

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20499298
AutoresStefanie Stott (0000-0003-0843-0024, Atlantic Technological University Sligo, autor de correspondencia), Emmet McLoughlin (0000-0002-3791-9673, Cardiff Metropolitan University), James Hanrahan (0000-0001-9391-5039, Atlantic Technological University Sligo)
Año2025
Volumen27
Número3
Páginas239-265
Fecha de publicación2025-05-04
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaConservation and Management of Archaeological Sites (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1350-5033 • E-ISSN: 1753-5522
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13505033.2025.2593451
OpenAlexW7133944531
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas19

Understanding visitors to archaeological sites is essential for effectively managing archaeotourism and sustaining the archaeological resource. This paper aims to identify visitor needs at archaeological sites. Visitors to six case study sites along the west coast of Ireland were surveyed through an online questionnaire. The findings offer valuable insights into tourists’ motivations and satisfaction levels at archaeological sites, emphasising their distinct needs as ‘archaeotourists’. As a novel contribution, insights from the Irish context reveal how visitor characteristics influence motivations that extend beyond the site itself to include the surrounding landscape, which impacts emotional experiences and enhances satisfaction levels. The findings also identify a clear link between the availability of onsite interpretive information, satisfaction, and conservation. This paper underscores the critical role of informed, visitor-centred management in the strategic management of archaeological sites and contributes to discussions on the sustainable management of archaeotourism and the evolving need to conserve archaeological sites

Visitor pattern · West coast · Wildlife · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies