Authenticity versus Commodification: Atrocity heritage tourism at the 'Death railway' of the River Kwai

For more than thirty years, the 'Death Railway' of the River Kwai has been increasing its popularity as a tourism product. It is an example of a rapidly growing atrocity heritage tourism- an infamous bridge and rail line that was built by the Prisoners of War during the Second World War. In this process of providing heritage for tourism consumption, there is tendency to commodify several aspects of heritage to meet the needs of visitors. From a lack of a good understanding in heritage management, it is seductively easy to destroy any connection of the social context, in which heritage is inevitably, embedded. The commodification of historical significance; physical setting; and social and cultural experience, commonly dislocates a site from its living users and inhabitants, without regard to the interests of living populations. Tourist commodification at this site has obscured its authenticity. This paper which is a part of PhD research will present the problems of the places' commodification and suggest the means to reinvest authenticity in the heritage.