Possibilities for paranormal tourism development in Serbia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/EEC2021.08Abstract
This paper aims to identify possibilities for paranormal tourism development in Serbia and to determine domestic tourists’ interest in participating in paranormal tourism. Paranormal places and bizarre rituals have been defined as potential paranormal tourism localities and events. Paranormal tourism is one of the new forms of special interest tourism. It is evident that paranormal tourism is a result of the expansion of other related types of tourism, such as dark tourism, ghost tourism, spiritual tourism, cultural tourism, ethnological tourism, new age tourism and pilgrimage tourism. It is defined by tourists’ interest in topics which challenge realist ontologies and representational epistemologies. The present study examines responses from 405 Serbia residents (potential tourists). After using descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-Test and ANOVA, the study finds that potential tourists are interested in visiting certain paranormal places, and there is a possibility to develop this type of tourism in Serbia. The current work is the first study of paranormal tourism in Serbia and one of the few studies in the world.
References
Amidzic, L., Bartula, M., Krivošej, Z. and D. Prodanovic 2013 ‘Protected Areas in Serbia’, Natural Areas Journal 33(3): 348−355, https://doi.org/10.3375/043.033.0314 Antonijević, D. 1990 ‘Ritualni trans’ [The Ritual Trance], Belgrade: SASA Institute for Balkan Studies.
Bader, C. D. 2017 Paranormal America: Ghost encounters, UFO sightings, Bigfoot hunts, and other curiosities in religion and culture (2nd ed.), New York: University Press.
Bader, C. D., Carson, M. F. and J. O. Baker 2010 Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sightings, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other Curiosities in Religion and Culture, New York: University Press.
Birnes, W. and J. Martin 2009 The Haunting of America: From the Salem Witch Trials to Harry Houdini, Tom Doherty Associates: LLC.
Blanco, M.P, and E. Peeren 2013 The spectralities reader: Ghosts and haunting in contemporary cultural theory, Bloomsbury.
Blankshein, S. 2012 Paranormal preservation: The utilisation of paranormal tourism in historic site interpretations, The Savannah College of Art and Design.
Djordjevic, D. 2018 Rusalje – predanje iz sela Duboka [Rusallias – A traditional ritual from the village of Duboka], Veljko Dugosevic” Cultural Centre.
Drinkwater, K., Laythe, B., Houran, J., Dagnall, N., O’Keeffe, C. and S. A. Hill 2019 ‘Exploring gaslighting effects via the VAPUS model for ghost narratives’, Australian Journal of Parapsychology 19(2): 143−179.
Durlic, P. 1995 ‘Cult of the dead as basis for Vlach’s religion determination’, Etno- kulturoloski Zbornik, pp. 232−240 (in Serbian).
Durlic, P. 1996 ‘Pokladni Priveg’ [Fire for the dead], Etno-kulturološki Zbornik, pp. 110−115 (in Serbian).
Evans, J., Lange, R., Houran, J. and S. J. Lynn 2019 ‘Further psychometric exploration of the transliminality construct’, Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice 6(4): 417–438, https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000163.
Haynes, E. 2016 ‘Paranormal Tourism Study of Economics and Public Policy’, Report. Kansas State University, US.
Hill, S. A., O’Keeffe, C., Laythe, B., Dagnall, N., Drinkwater, K., Ventola, A. and J. Houran 2018 ‘Meme-spirited: I. The VAPUS model for understanding the prevalence and potency of ghost narratives’, Australian Journal of Parapsychology 18(2): 117−152.
Hill, S. A., Laythe, B., Dagnall, N., Drinkwate, K., O’Keeffe, C., Ventola, A. and J. Houran 2019 ‘Meme-spirited: II. Illustrations of the VAPUS model for ghost narratives’, Australian Journal of Parapsychology 19(1): 6−44.
Holzhauser, E. 2015 Paranormal tourism in Edinburgh: Storytelling, appropriating ghost culture and presenting an uncanny heritage [Doctoral dissertation, University of St. Andrews].
Houran, J., Hill, S. A., Haynes, D. E. and U. A. Bielski 2020 ‘Paranormal tourism: Market Study of a novel and interactive approach to space activation and monetization’, Cornell Hospitality Quarterly 61(1): 68−83, https://doi. org/10.1177/1938965520909094.
Irwin, H. J. 2000 ‘Belief in the paranormal and a sense of control over life’, European Journal of Parapsychology No. 15: 68−78.
Jepson, D. and R. Sharpley 2011 ‘Rural tourism: A spiritual experience?’, Annals of Tourism Research 38(1): 52–71, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.05.002
Jojic, J. 2000 Wonders of Vlach’s Magic, Novi Sad: Prometej. Jojic, J. 2009 Vlach’s Magic, Novi Sad: Prometej.
Kleiber, D. A., Hutchinson, S. L. and R. Williams 2002 ‘Leisure as a resource in transcending negative life events: Self-protection, self-restoration, and personal transformation’, Leisure Sciences 24(2): 219−235, https://doi. org/10.1080/01490400252900167.
Lazarević, R. 2001 Dubočka pećina [The Dubocka Cave], Serbian Geographical Society.
Lecouteux, C. 2012 The secret history of poltergeists and haunted houses: From pagan folklore to modern manifestations, Inner Traditions.
Lindeman, M. and K. Aarnio 2006 ‘Paranormal beliefs: Their dimensionality and correlates’, European Journal of Personality 20(7): 585−602, https://doi. org/10.1002/per.608
Lukic, D. and S. Andjelkovic 2018 ‘Rusallias – A basis for promoting ethno-tourism in Eastern Serbia’ in V. Bevanda and S. Stetic (eds), 3rd International Thematic Monograph – Thematic Proceedings: Modern Management Tools and Economy of Tourism Sector in Present Era, pp. 701−718, https://doi.org/10.31410/ tmt.2018.701.
Mathe-Soulek, K., Aguirre, G. and I. Dallinger 2016 ‘You Look Like You’ve Seen A Ghost: A preliminary Exploration in Price and Customer Satisfaction Differences at Haunted Hotel Properties’, Journal of Tourism Insights 7(1): 1−14, https://doi. org/10.9707/2328-0824.1058.
McClenon, J. 2004 ‘How shamanism began: Human evolution, dissociation, and anomalous experience’ in J. Houran (ed.) From shaman to scientist: Essays on humanity’s search for spirits, Scarecrow Press, pp. 21−58.
McClenon, J. 2012 ‘A community survey of psychological symptoms: Evaluating evolutionary theories regarding shamanism and schizophrenia’, Mental Health, Religion & Culture 15(8): 799−816, https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2011.637913. Miljkovic, Lj. and D. Stojanjelovic 2002 ‘Tradicionalno nasledje Vlaha kao turisticki motiv Homolja’ [Vlach Traditional Heritage as a Tourism Motif of Homolje Region], Collection of Papers of the Department of Geography, Tourism and
Hotel Management No. 32: 119−124.
Nesic, D. 2013 ‘Some examples of relict cryoplanation plateaus in the relief of Rtanj: Eastern Serbia’, Zbornik radova University of Belgrade – Faculty of Geography No. 61, pp. 127−150.
Paunovic, B. 2001 The Vlach’s throughout the ages, Cuprija: Copyright edition. Pekela, R. J., Kumar, V.K. and J. Cummings 1992 ‘Types of High Hypnotically
Susceptible Individuals and Reported Attitudes and Experiences of the Paranormal and the Anomalous’, The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research No. 86: 135−150.
Pharino, C., Pearce, P. and J. Pryce 2018 ‘Paranormal tourism: assessing tourists’ onsite experiences’, Tourism Management Perspectives No. 28: 20−28. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.06.003.
Pharino, C. and P. Pearce 2019 ‘Paranormal Tourism Planning: Stakeholder Views on Development in South East Asia’, Tourism Planning and Development 17(3): 1−22, https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1667860.
Reynolds, Z. and N. M. Hirtz 2012 ‘Surfing as adventure travel: Motivations and lifestyles’, Journal of Tourism Insights 3(1): 1−16, https://doi.org/10.9707/2328- 0824.1024.
Sharpley, R. and P. R. Stone 2009 ‘Consuming dark tourism: A thanatological perspective’, Annals of Tourism Research 35(2): 574–595, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. annals.2008.02.003.
Sen, M. and E. Yesilyurt 2014 ‘The development of Paranormal Belief Scale (PBS) for science education in the context of Turkey’, International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology 2(2): 107−115, DOI:10.18404/ijemst.40479.
Serbia.com (2016, March 18) Six scary places in Serbia you’ll want to visit, http:// www.serbia.com/six-scary-places-serbia-youll-want-visit/ (access 25.12.2019).
Smith, C.L., Johnson, J. L. and W. Hathaway 2009 ‘Personality contributions to belief in paranormal phenomena’, Individual Differences Research 7(2): 85−96.
Stanciulescu, C., Molnar, E. and M. Bunghez 2011 ‘Tourism's changing face: new age tourism versus old tourism’, Annals of Faculty of Economics No. 1: 245−249.
Stankov, U., Čikić, J. and T. Armenski 2017 ‘Should tourism sector be responsive to New Age lifestyles?’ in: 5th International Conference on Contemporary Marketing Issues (ICCMI), Thessaloniki, Greece, June 21 − 23, 2017, pp. 636. Thessaloniki: Alexander Technological Educational Institute (ATEI) of Thessaloniki, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Štefho, R., Kiráľová, A. and M. Mudrík 2015 ‘Strategic marketing communication in pilgrimage tourism’, Procedia–Social and behavioural sciences 175(12): 423–430, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1219.
Tobacyk, J. J. 2004 ‘A Revised Paranormal Belief Scale’, The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 23 (23): 94–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2004.23.1.94. Tobacyk, J. and G. Milford 1983 ‘Belief in paranormal phenomena: Assessment instrument development and implications for personality functioning’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 44(5): 1029–1037, https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.44.5.1029.
Winter, T., Teo, P. and T. C. Chang 2008 Asia on tour: Exploring the rise of Asian tourism, NY: Routledge, New York.
Zaleskiewicz, T. 2001 ‘Beyond risk seeking and risk aversion: Personality and the dual nature of economic risk taking’, European Journal of Personality 15(S1): S105−S122, https://doi.org/10.1002/per.426.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Sanja Obradović, Tatjana Pivac, Snežana Besermenji, Aleksandra Tešin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 86
Number of citations: 0
