Place identity and place attachment of locals towards heritage in a Hungarian town Vác

Abstract

The ongoing theoretical debate on the meaning of place identity, place attachment, place dependence and familiarity indicate the problems concerning the definition and the boundaries of the concepts. We investigated how place attachment and familiarity with the place are interrelated in terms of native vs. non-native residency in comparison with the sites recommended to visitors. The focus of our investigation was inhabitants’ relationship to their Hungarian hometown Vác, a prestigious town rich in local values with built heritage sites. An interesting phenomenon is formed by the question referring to what places are worth showing to prestigious guests, a question referring to what people consider tourism attractions. The difference between the local perception of a place and the assumed appreciation of a visitor may add features to the study of cultural tourism, tourism anthropology and heritage interpretation.