Heteronormativity as Heritage: Cultural Narratives and the Tourist Imagination

Abstract

This paper examines how cultural narratives in tourism construct and legitimise heteronormativity as a form of heritage. Although LGBTQIA+ tourism has been explored, little attention has been given to how mainstream discourses preserve heterosexuality as cultural continuity. Using a qualitative, interpretivist approach grounded in discourse analysis, the study draws on heritage studies, queer theory, and tourism geography. Findings reveal that heteronormativity is embedded in heritage discourses, tourist imaginaries, and marketing practices, producing exclusions and invisibilities. The paper argues for a queer reimagining of tourism, contributing to debates on inclusivity, cultural justice, and sustainability.