Battlefields as a Cultural Resource and an Integrated Tourist Attraction; the Case of Thermopylae

According to Miles (Battlefield tourism: meanings and interpretations, 2020), a site’s historical resources alone are insufficient to develop it commercially as an attraction. The authors developed a model in which a battlefield must fulfill four factors to be considered a complete tourist attraction. Thus, a two-step methodology was used to determine critical and non-critical criteria. A comparative analysis identifies good examples from Europe that meet all the criteria for being integrated tourist attractions. The study next examines Thermopylae’s famous battlefield, determining its suitability as a historical resource and tourism attraction. The four conflicts examined—the Battle of Waterloo (1815), the Normandy Landings (1944), the Battle of Somme (1916), and the Battle of Culloden (1746)—all fit all the criteria. Regarding new technologies, it was discovered that the management bodies of the aforementioned battlefields have a strong social media presence, multilingual websites, and the ability to book online tickets to museums, tour guides, and additional services like lodging, dining, and entertainment for potential visitors. According to relevant research, the Thermopylae battlefield is substantially recreated through cultural activities, especially folk and traditional musical performances at the yearly “Thermopylea” celebrations. To spread throughout civilizations and people, the term is exclusively used in electronic commercials and other types of advertising. Prior to and throughout the “Thermopylea”, maybe without displaying any historical films or documentaries.