Calling all tourists to Middle-earth

Durham University doctoral student Danielle Smith is undertaking a project into the experiences of tourists to mythical and fantastic locations, through two case studies- the landscapes of New Zealand/ Middle-earth, and Arthurian sites in the South West of Britain.

Through working with tourists at these sites, she hopes to illuminate how locations from fiction or legend are important to us, and the ways in which we experience these landscapes. What does it feel like to ‘re-live the magic’ of your favourite scenes, or to ‘walk in the footsteps’ of mythical heroes? You can find further information about the project at her research website.