Rural Roma cultural heritage-based tourism in Central and Eastern Europe

TL;DR

This paper explores how Roma cultural heritage in rural areas of Central and Eastern Europe can support sustainable tourism and community development.

Contribution

The study introduces an analytical framework for Roma heritage tourism, combining bottom-up and top-down approaches in the CEE region.

Findings

Bottom-up Roma heritage initiatives include intangible elements like music and storytelling.

Top-down European strategies aim to support Roma heritage and tourism development.

A pilot case in Hungary highlights socio-cultural activities for heritage preservation.

Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of Roma heritage, community development and tourism dynamics, with a particular focus on rural contexts, by exploring the areas of preservation, representation, promotion and potential economic development. This study forms part of a wider research initiative within the SECreTour project, which explores how cultural heritage can stimulate sustainable and equitable tourism development. A comparative, problem-oriented literature review focusing on Roma heritage-based cultural tourism initiatives in the CEE region is conducted to identify bottom-up initiatives, conceptual models, key heritage elements, and recommendations associated with Roma tourism offerings. In addition to examining these frameworks, the study maps top-down approaches by analysing European strategies, programs and projects targeting Roma heritage and tourism. Among the case studies examined, one pilot will analyse efforts to preserve and promote Roma heritage in Tomor and the surrounding villages located in a disadvantaged, peripheral region in North-eastern Hungary. These initiatives focus on various forms of intangible heritage, such as gastronomy, music and storytelling, as well as socio-cultural activities like participatory video production and extracurricular educational programs. Based on the collected data, the paper will establish an analytical framework for understanding Roma heritage tourism and its potential for sustainable community development.