Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

This paper extends research on ancestral tourism into an urban industrial setting with implications for its delivery, development and promotion, articulated here in the post-industrial city of Glasgow, Scotland. Ancestral tourism has been identified as a growth-heritage market by Visit Scotland (Scotland’s official national tourism organisation), with the potential to benefit all areas of the country. Largely consumed by the Scottish diaspora in the rest of the UK as well as overseas markets such as the USA, Canada, and Australia, these tourists come in search of an ancestral homeland and a place to articulate real and imagined pasts. Both promotion and research have thus far largely invited tourists to inscribe their ancestral heritage in romanticised, rural settings. As the official, publicly funded, custodian of Glasgow’s heritage resources, Glasgow Life is charged with the delivery of social aims through provision of culture, sport and learning facilities while using the same to encourage economic regeneration and growth through cultural and heritage tourism. It also promotes and encourages public access while maintaining the integrity of curatorial roles. Glasgow Life is keen to explore ancestral tourism’s potential by drawing on the rich urban industrial heritage resources across its museums, galleries and archives. Observation, in-depth interviews, and informal conversations with staff highlighted issues in delivering consistent and coordinated ancestral tourism provision that emphasises the often-misunderstood place of Glasgow in the story of Scotland’s diaspora. Across the organisation we noted the challenges in balancing traditional curatorial roles with accessibility and commercialisation of heritage.