What is it about?
This article examines how England is portrayed in its current tourist promotional materials. It finds that the images used mostly focus on a traditional, semi-rural, and typically southern English identity. The analysis delves deeper, also looking at issues of sexuality and race, arguing that these are central to understanding what defines both Englishness and the distinction between Englishness and modern Britishness.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it reveals how tourism materials reinforce specific visions of national identity, often excluding or marginalising diverse voices and experiences. By focusing on issues of race and sexuality, the article challenges dominant representations of Englishness, prompting critical reflections on cultural inclusivity and social representation. It can be of interest for scholars of tourism, identity, and cultural studies.
Perspectives
I believe this article offers valuable insights into the power of tourism marketing in shaping our understanding of national identity. It provides a critical analysis of the prevalent imagery, encouraging a more nuanced and representative depiction of England that reflects its complex, multicultural reality.
Dr José Igor Prieto-Arranz
University of the Balearic Islands
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Rural, White and Straight. The ETC's Vision of England, Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, May 2006, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/14766820608668497.
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