Developing cross-border cultural tourism
Top-down vs bottom-up governance approaches
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21718083 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Greg Richards (0000-0002-5903-6310, Tilburg University, corresponding author), Leontine Onderwater (Project Management, Association for Tourism & Leisure Education & Research (ATLAS)) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-24 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Tourism Geographies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1461-6688 • E-ISSN: 1470-1340 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14616688.2026.2664755 |
| OpenAlex | W7160141329 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Cultural tourism is increasingly used to develop cross-border tourism products. Previous studies have highlighted de-bordering processes in the EU, but now symbolic re-bordering processes designed to turn former borders into tourism attractions are emerging. Re-bordering has also been stimulated by nationalistic discourses on deterring migration. This paper considers how changing discourses on borders affect collaborative tourism projects on the international borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. We contrast the bottom-up development of local authority-led projects with the top-down UNESCO Roman Limes project, recreating the second Century border of the Roman Empire. Through stakeholder interviews and policy analysis we identify symbolic re-bordering processes linked to shared cultural narratives based on smuggling and local legends. Locally led projects include cultural routes highlighting the former frontier, including the First World War ‘death wire’ barrier. In contrast the top-down governance approach of the Limes limits cross-border collaboration and highlights tensions related to migration and populist discourses at national level. We examine the implications of these emerging tensions for cross-border tourism development and compare the effects of different governance arrangements
Corporate governance · Developing country · Tourism · Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies
Policy learning and policy failure in sustainable tourism governance
Tourism routes
Lines of memory. Relict borders as footprints for tourism
A Review of Tourism and Bordering Processes
A cautionary tale for the generations. The reconstruction of the former border-check-points in Poland
Is heritage tourism a panacea for rural decline? A comparative study of the Camino de Santiago and the Canal de Castilla in Spain
The role of trails in the creation of tourist space
Obstacles to achieving cross-border tourism governance
Border complexity, tourism and international exclaves
Emergence of governance in cross-border destinations
Tourism trails as tools for cross-border integration
The Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes
Developing a tourism region through tourism and culture
Transboundary Collaboration in Tourism
How border tripoints offer opportunities for transboundary tourism development
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |