The Production of Destination Imaginaries: Rethinking Coastal Tourism

Short description of what will be presented during the seminar:

This seminar focuses on the presentation of a doctoral thesis begun in October 2025. It examines how the tourism imaginary has been constructed on the French Atlantic coast and how it can be mobilised to develop management strategies that support environmental imperatives.

The research project stems from the observation that modern tourism practices are hardly compatible with coastal landscape transformations (such as rising sea levels and coastal erosion) and that the pressure exerted by overtourism tends to accelerate the harmful effects of these upheavals.

In this context, it seems interesting to examine how perceptions of coastal areas and human activities there have evolved. Indeed, it can be observed that the coastline has gradually shifted from a frightening chimera to a therapeutic purpose since the end of the 17th century and, more recently, to a recreational calling. The use of this space is therefore completely unprecedented in human civilisation, and has had a particularly significant impact on an area that was long considered a land of emptiness.

The research will therefore initially focus on railway posters advertising destinations on the Atlantic coast, seeking to understand how these posters shaped recreational activities on the coast and influenced the organisation of tourism in these areas. In a second phase, the research will incorporate a principle of co-construction by consulting local and regional stakeholders and discussing the implementation of new methods of tourism regulation.

The seminar will be a presentation of the current research project as well as the initial findings and avenues explored by the student researcher. Although the project is still in its early stages, the imaginative and visual nature of the subject lends itself to a presentation to the academic community and also represents a valuable opportunity for the student to gather feedback and guidance for the work ahead.

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