Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Postdoctoral Researcher in Sociology, Department of Sociology of Economic Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2
Professor, Sociology, Department of Sociology of Economic Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
Abstract
Diaspora tourism refers to a form of travel in which individuals or descendants of communities living away from their ancestral homeland return for various personal, cultural, or emotional reasons. Often, such tourism occurs in coastal or maritime areas, allowing travelers to symbolically reconnect with their roots and heritage.
This study is descriptive-exploratory in nature. It employs secondary data analysis as its research method. The statistical population includes existing literature and research works on diaspora tourism. From a total of 71 scholarly sources, 25 were purposively selected based on defined inclusion criteria.
The findings reveal that maritime homelands can serve as symbolic spaces, offering diaspora tourists meaningful and transformative experiences. Coastal destinations, due to their cultural and emotional resonance, can evoke strong feelings of nostalgia, deepening tourists' emotional connections to their origins. The sea, as a powerful cultural and symbolic element, plays a significant role in shaping these experiences.
For diaspora communities, visiting ancestral lands is more than a trip; it is a journey of cultural rediscovery. It provides opportunities to engage with traditions, landscapes, and symbols—such as the sea—that hold ancestral meaning. This form of travel supports the reconstruction of identity, reinforcement of belonging, and reproduction of cultural meanings tied to homeland.
By exploring the role of the sea as a cultural heritage element and analyzing the symbolic dimensions of diaspora tourism, this study offers new insights for researchers. It encourages deeper investigation into how identity, memory, and place interact in the context of tourism for communities far from home.
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