Abstract
Literature can provide tourism with new destinations, which can in turn foster cultural and economic development. This chapter contends that Shkodra has potential for the development of literary tourism, and that making better use of literature as part of the cultural heritage and tourism offer in this city would have multiple benefits. Not only would this increase interest in literature as well as create stronger connections with the literary tradition, but it would also offer unique experiences, help connect with local communities, and even support local economy. By using autoethnography as a starting point, this chapter will provide a model on how to use literature as part of cultural tourism by highlighting significant literary locations in Shkodra, Albania, which has been chosen as a case study. That will then be followed by an analytical discussion of the strategies to be used so as to bring literature to the attention of people.
TopMethodology
The approach used in this paper is qualitative, a combination of primary research through the use of autoethnography, and secondary sources.
The choice of autoethnography was made in order to use personal experience as a starting point for the analysis. The autoethnography is “the sharing of, and reflection upon, subjective, unique and evocative” experiential stories (Harwood and Eaves 2017, p. 146). It is a form of self-narrative that places the self within a social context and gives the researcher the possibility to engage in an analysis of the culture they are a member of and draw broader conclusions about it. It offers an opportunity for “[re]claiming voice” (Holman et al., 2013, p. 32) and can “reveal that which is hidden from conventional approaches” by allowing to observe “self in participation” (Harwood and Eaves, 2017, p. 145). As Ellis (1997, p.117) states, it “adds blood and tissue to the abstract bones of the theoretical discourse.”
The autoethnography allows one to focus on telling a personal story which “evokes in readers a feeling that the experience described is authentic and lifelike, believable and possible” (Ellis 1997, p. 133) and encourages others to share their own stories (ibid).
Through observation and reflection, the researcher explores and understands their own culture better as well as help others, both insiders and outsiders gain a different perspective about it. The researcher becomes aware of their position and creates “a space to change the perception becomes aware of their position and creates “a space to change the perception of the resultant reality” leading to “action based on reflection, and reflection based on action” (Blackburn, 2000, as cited in Starrs 2010, p. 2). Starrs believes that for the people involved in autoethnography and those who read autoethnographic accounts, the process of engagement can be transformative: “This kind of writing can inform, awaken, and disturb readers by illustrating their involvement in social processes about which they might not have been consciously aware” (Sparks 2002, as cited in Starr, p. 3).
Key Terms in this Chapter
INSTAT: Instituti i Statistikave të Shqipërisë - The Albanian Institute of Statistics.
MTM: Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Turizmit - The Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
Literary Tourism: A type of cultural tourism which has developed into an important tourism niche during the last years, literary tourism is travel related to literature, typically, either to places linked with a specific author (hometown, house, grave) or a book (setting, a trail in the footsteps of characters, etc), but it can also take a number of other forms.
Shkodra: A city in Northern Albania, often referred to as the cultural capital of the country 1A literary map of the city, made by the author of this paper, can be accessed here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1urDuR0SCKOFG2Ha6MfK1opCj8SE&ll=42.06657408949859%2C19.51263043371592&z=15 .
Autoethnography: A research instrument for collecting primary data based on personal experience (“auto”) which is used as a starting point to reflect, describe and interpret (“graphy”) social and cultural practices, experiences, and beliefs (“ethno”).
AKT: Agjencia Kombëtare e Turizmit - Albanian National Agency of Tourism.