Dark souveniring: just a souvenir or something more complex

Abstract

Dark tourism shops have faced considerable moral criticism. This study draws on site observation and worksheets associated with a field trip to the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to examine children's souvenir purchasing experiences. Employing thematic analysis of children's narratives, the findings reveal that dark souvenirs can facilitate contextualisation of the site, emotional engagement, and symbolic meanings for the purchase of such souvenirs. Souvenirs and souveniring are discussed in reference to cause-related marketing strategies to balance the commemorative, educational, and economic objectives. The cause-related marketing partnership between the museum and charitable organisation enhances the acceptance of the souvenir shop and its products. The concept of cause-related marketing is valuable for explaining museum and charity shop dynamics, to inform effective management.

How do Tourism Souvenir Purchasing Channels Impact Tourists’ Intention to Purchase? The Moderating Role of Souvenir Authenticity

“…However, many factors determine souvenir purchasing behavior (Dresler, 2022). They value convenience, portability, and other utility factors (Anastasiadou & Vettese, 2021; Dresler, 2022; Masset & Decrop, 2021).…”

“…However, many factors determine souvenir purchasing behavior (Dresler, 2022). They value convenience, portability, and other utility factors (Anastasiadou & Vettese, 2021; Dresler, 2022; Masset & Decrop, 2021). For example, a food souvenir is often difficult or inconvenient to handle and tourists may not be willing to take it home themselves, and online souvenir purchases may appeal as a way to relieve them of the inconvenience of carrying souvenirs (Yuan et al, 2022).…”

“…Souvenirs, the “messenger of the extraordinary,” are concrete objects that invoke memories of travel (Gordon, 1986). Tourists usually consider souvenirs to be physical evidence of their traveling experience (Swanson, 2004), and as reminders of extraordinary moments and events in their lives (Dresler, 2022; Masset & Decrop, 2021). Studies of tourists show they consider the purchase of souvenirs as an important part of the travel experience (Dresler, 2022; Dumbrovská & Fialová, 2020; F.…”

“…Tourists usually consider souvenirs to be physical evidence of their traveling experience (Swanson, 2004), and as reminders of extraordinary moments and events in their lives (Dresler, 2022; Masset & Decrop, 2021). Studies of tourists show they consider the purchase of souvenirs as an important part of the travel experience (Dresler, 2022; Dumbrovská & Fialová, 2020; F. Li & Ryan, 2018), without which their trips would be incomplete (Swanson & Horridge, 2006).…”