A “new normality” for residents and tourists: How can a disaster become a tourist resource?

Abstract

Although Italy is ranked as one of the five European Countries with a high probability of being exposed to a natural hazard, 75% of Italian housing stock does not meet any anti-seismic criteria. In addition to this already fragile scenario, the fact that Italy is one of the countries characterised by a rich cultural heritage opens new issues regarding the impact of a disaster on this territory. The current social science debate is already pointing out that the disaster’s recovery phase needs to move on from a physical and economic dimension towards a social and cultural one. However, much needs to be explored-especially in Europe-about how to deal with a tourist destination during and after a disaster. A “new normality” has to be found for the residents as well as for tourists and visitors. Beyond dark tourism, the recovery phase for a destination can work on finding new meanings and policies aimed at reshaping a new imagery which could encapsulate the tragic memory. The aim of this chapter is to present two Italian cases that in different ways have worked on the recovery/reconstruction phase within a touristic frame: the town of Longarone (1963 Vajont disaster) became a destination of a collective memory and the town of Comeglians (1976 Friuli earthquake) turned into an innovative tourist destination. Were these examples successful and can a lesson be learned from them?