Duncan Light

Dr Duncan Light

  • Principal Academic In Tourism
  • Dorset House D173, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
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Biography

I joined Bournemouth University in 2014 and am a Principal Academic in tourism management at Bournemouth University Business School. By background I am a human geographer and all my teaching and research draws out the relationships between tourism, places and spaces. Much of my research focuses on Romania, a country I have visited regularly since 1995.

Research

There are 4 strands to my current research:

First, I am interested in the cultural politics of tourism. My recent research has focused on 'Dracula tourism' in Romania. Dracula presents Romania with a unique dilemma: on one hand it can generate much needed foreign currency through tourism, but on the other hand it fundamentally collides with Romania's sense of its own political and cultural identity. My book 'The Dracula Dilemma: Tourism, Identity and the State in Romania' (Routledge, 2016) explores how Romania has negotiated this dilemma over the past 40 years (in both communist and post-communist contexts. I am currently a part of the AHRC-funded ‘Dracula returns to Derby’ project (led by Professor Matthew Cheeseman of the University of Derby).

Second I am researching the role of tourism within transitional justice in post-communist Romania. Working with Prof Remus Cretan from Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara, I have focused on the experiences of visitors in memorial museums dedicated to communist repression. In particular we have explored how visitors interact with, and negotiate, the messages they encounter.

Third, I have long-standing research expertise in heritage tourism and am currently researching the tangible and intangible heritage of the British seaside holiday. In particular, I am examining how this represents a form of unofficial or ‘unrecognised’ heritage that has long been denied recognition but which is increasingly being valued and valorized with coastal resort regeneration...

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Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Responsible consumption and production

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

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Peace, justice and strong institutions

"Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels"

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Journal Articles

Books

  • Light, D., 2012. The Dracula Dilemma: Tourism, Identity and the State in Romania. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Chapters

  • Crisan, M.-M., Light, D., 2023. Transylvanian Society of Dracula as a "Cultural Broker" in Romania. In: Bacon, S., eds. The Palgrave Handbook of the Vampire. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 1411-1426.
  • Light, D., 2022. Communism (Tourism in Communist States). Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing (ed. D. Buhalis). Edward Elgar.
  • Speed, E., Light, D., 2019. (Dis)ordering the city: buildings, bodies and urban space. In: Speight, E., eds. Practising Place: Creative and Critical Reflections on Place. Sunderland: Art Editions North, 118-131.
  • Light, D., 2017. Travel and tourism in Bram Stoker's Dracula. Dracula: An International Perspective. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 139-156.
  • Young, C., Light, D., 2017. The corpse, heritage, and tourism: The multiple ontologies of the body of king richard III of England. Heritage of Death Landscapes of Emotion Memory and Practice. 92-104.
  • Ciobanu, C., Light, D., 2017. A new geography of protest in Bucharest. In: Adi, A., Lilleker, D., eds. #Rezist: Romania’s 2017 anti-corruption protests: Causes, Development and Implications. Berlin: Quadriga University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, 63-67.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2017. The politics of toponymic continuity: The limits of change and the ongoing lives of street names. Political Life of Urban Streetscapes Naming Politics and Place. 185-201.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2017. Memory, commemorative landscapes and transitional justice. In: Stan, L., Turcescu, L., eds. Justice, Memory and Redress in Romania New Insights. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 145-165.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2017. Last Night of the Fair: Heritage, Resort Identity and the Closure of Southport’s Pleasureland. In: Wood, J., eds. The Amusement Park History Culture and the Heritage of Pleasure. Abingdon: Routledge, 179-202.
  • Young, C., Light, D., Dumbrăveanu, D., 2017. Public space, memory and protest during post-socialist transformation: The emergence of Piaţa Universităţii (University Square), Bucharest, as a space of protest. Public Space Between Reimagination and Occupation. 75-88.
  • Light, D., 2017. Characteristics of the audience for 'events' at a heritage site. Heritage Tourist Experience Critical Essays Volume Two. 211-218.
  • Light, D., 2017. Tourism and Travel in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Palgrave Gothic. 139-156.
  • Light, D., Watson, S., 2017. The Castle Imagined: Emotion and Affect in the Experience of Ruins. In: Tolia-Kelly, D., Waterton, E., Watson, S., eds. Heritage, Affect and Emotion. Routledge, 154-178.
  • Light, D., 2017. The undead and dark tourism: Dracula tourism in Romania. In: Hooper, G., Lennon, J., eds. Dark Tourism: Practice and Interpretation. Abingdon: Routledge, 121-133.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2017. Spatiul public si mosteniril materiale ale comunismului in Bucuresti. In: Stan, L., Vancea, D., eds. Romania postcomunista: Trecut, prezent si viitor. Iasi: Polirom, 63-81.
  • Young, C., Light, D., 2016. Multiple and contested geographies of memory: Remembering the 1989 Romanian ‘revolution’. Memory Place and Identity Commemoration and Remembrance of War and Conflict. 56-73.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2016. Last Night of the Fair: Heritage, Resort Identity and the Closure of Southport’s Pleasureland. The Amusement Park: History, Culture and the Heritage of Pleasure. Routledge (forthcoming).
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2015. Public memory, commemoration and transitional justice: Reconfiguring the past in public space. In: Stan, L., Nedelsky, N., eds. Post-Communist Transitional Justice: Lessons from Twenty-Five Years of Experience. New York: Cambridge University Press, 233-251.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2015. Public Space and the Material Legacies of Communism in Bucharest. Post Communist Romania at Twenty Five Linking Past Present and Future. 41-59.
  • Light, D., 2015. Heritage and Tourism. In: Waterton, E., Watson, S., eds. The Palgrave Companion to Contemporary Heritage Research. Palgrave, 144-158.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2015. Local and Counter-Memories of Socialism in Post-Socialist Romania. In: Beyen, M., Deseure, B., eds. Local Memories in a Nationalizing and Globalizing World. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 221-243.
  • Light, D., 2012. Taking Dracula on Holiday: The presence of home in the tourism encounter. In: Smith, L., Waterton, E., Watson, S., eds. The Cultural Moment in Tourism. Routledge, 59-78.
  • Light, D., Young, C., Czepczyński, M., 2009. Heritage Tourism in Central and Eastern Europe. In: Timothy, D., Nyaupane, G.P., eds. Cultural Heritage and Tourism in the Developing World. London: Routledge, 224-245.
  • Light, D., 2009. Halloween in Transylvania. In: Foley, M., O'Donnell, H., eds. Trick or Treat? Halloween in a Globalising World. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 186-200.
  • Light, D., 2006. Romania: national identity, tourism promotion and European integration. In: Hall, D., Smith, M., Marciszweska, B., eds. Tourism in the New Europe: The Challenges and Opportunities of EU Enlargement. Wallingford: CABI, 256-269.

Conferences

  • Light, D., 2025. Dracula souvenirs in Romania: Materiality, aesthetics, meaning. In: Dracula Returns - A Conference and Celebration 15/05/2025 Derby.
  • Light, D., 2024. The enduring influence of Dracula on the image of Romania (Keynote). In: Children of the Night International Dracula Congress 25/10/2024 Online.
  • Light, D., 2023. Dark tourism and thanatourism: Are they useful concepts for studying tragic heritage? In: The Heritage of Tragic Memory in Contemporary Society: Approaches and Challenges 28/09/2023 Porto, Portugal.
  • Light, D., 2023. Stereotypes of Eastern Europe in Have His Carcase. In: 46th Annual Convention of the Dorothy L Sayers Society 05/08/2022 Bristol.
  • Light, D., 2021. Domestic tourism and transitional justice: Exploring the relationship in Romania’. In: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Transitional Justice 06/07/2021 Loughborough.
  • Light, D., 2019. Why is the heritage of the seaside so unappreciated? In: Sea Change: Coastal Heritage and Climate Change 04/09/2019 Blackpool.
  • Beer, S., Light, D., 2019. Don’t be afraid of the dark: dark night skies and being. In: Ellis-Hill, C., eds. Humanising Care, Health and Well-being Conference 13/06/2019 Bournemouth. Humanising Care, Health and Well-being Conference: Abstract book Bournemouth University: Centre for Qualitative Research Bournemouth University.
  • Light, D., 2019. ‘Muzee si justitia transitionala: intalnirile tinerilor cu trecutul communist la Muzeul Memorial Sighet’ (Museums and transitional justice: Young peoples’ encounters with the communist past at Sighet Memorial Museum). In: Research Seminar Series, Centre for Regional Development, Cross-frontier Studies and Territorial Planning, Universitate de Vest din Timisoara, Romania 29/05/2019 Timisoara, Romania.
  • Axon, S., Light, D., Chapman, A., 2019. Energy at the Edge: Conflicting narratives of renewable energy developments in coastal communities. In: The 15th annual International Association for the Study of Environment Space and Place conference 24/04/2019 Liverpool, UK.
  • Beer, S., Light, D., 2019. Dark tourism without death: the joy of dark night skies. In: Travel and Tourism Research Association 2019 annual research conference. Tourism in the era of connectivity 08/04/2019 Bournemouth.
  • Light, D., Chapman, A., 2019. The strangely neglected heritage of the British seaside. In: Travel and Tourism Research Association (Europe Chapter) Annual Conference 08/04/2019 Bournemouth, UK.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., Axon, S., 2017. Reconciling tourism and blue energy at the coast. In: The Visitor Economy: Strategies and Innovations 04/09/2017 Bournemouth.
  • Light, D., Chapman, A., Axon, S., 2017. Blue energy: Marginality, identity and engagement at the coast. In: Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference 29/08/2017 London.
  • Light, D., 2017. Global changes in the nature of tourism: Implications for the cities of Central and Eastern Europe. In: Building Urban Tourism through Place Making and Urban Regeneration in Central and Eastern Europe countries 19/05/2017 Timisoara, Romania.
  • Axon, S., Chapman, A., Light, D., 2017. Coastal sustainability transitions: Marginality, engagement and communities. In: Sustainability Transitions in the Coastal Zone 30/03/2017 Southern Connecticut State University.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2017. Last night of the fair: Heritage, resort identity and the closure of southport’s pleasureland. , 179-202.
  • Gale, T., Light, D., Long, P., 2016. Student assessment as a means of programme evaluation. In: Association for Teaching in Higher Education Annual Conference 09/12/2016 Cardiff Metropolitan University.
  • Light, D., 2016. Travel and Tourism in Bram Stoker's Dracula. In: 4th World Dracula Congress 20/10/2016 Trinity College, Dublin.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2016. Pier-ing into the future: Seaside pier sustainability in the 21st century. In: 2016 ATLAS Annual Conference: Tourism, Lifestyles and Locations 14/09/2016 Canterbury, UK.
  • Light, D., 2016. Space, place and tourism: New conceptualisations. In: Spatii altfel (Alternative Spaces) 10/12/2015 Bucharest, Romania. International Review of Social Research.
  • Light, D., 2015. Myth, Media and Place: Dracula and Transylvania in the British popular imagination. In: Beliefs and Cultures in Education and Culture 25/06/2015 Timisoara, Romania.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2014. Working with the carnivalesque in seaside resorts: An employee perspective. In: Seascapes: The Cultural Life of Seaside Towns’. COaST 2014 Conference 28/05/2014 Margate, UK.
  • Light, D., Watson, S., 2013. The castle imagined: Emotion and affect in the experience of heritage. In: Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers annual conference 28/08/2013 London.
  • Chapman, A., Light, D., Young, C., 2013. Employment, professionalism and opportunity: women's experience of tourism employment in Communist Romania. In: RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 28/08/2013 London.
  • Young, C., Light, D., 2012. Place (re)naming, power, resistance and indifference in post-socialist Bucharest. In: Trends in Toponymy 5 08/07/2012 Bern.
  • Light, D., Young, C., 2011. The persistence of socialist-era street names in everyday life and practice in the post-socialist city. In: Cities after Transition, 4th Workshop: Space, Culture and Transition 13/09/2011 Bucharest.

Reports

Others

  • Chapman, A., Light, D., 2022. Why we do like to be beside the seaside – now more than ever. Archant. Published.
  • Light, D., 2021. Book review. Under the sign of the cross: the People's Salvation Cathedral and the church-building industry in postsocialist Romania. by Giuseppe Tateo (Berghahn Books, 2020).. Taylor & Francis. In preparation.
  • Light, D., 2021. Book review: 'Museums of Communism', edited by Stephen M. Norris (Indiana University Press, 2020).. Taylor & Francis. Published online.
  • Light, D., 2021. Review of Socialist heritage: the politics of past and place in Romania by Emmanuela Grama (Indiana University Press, 2019).. Taylor and Francis. Published online.
  • Light, D., 2017. Romania's problem with Dracula. History Today. Published.
  • Light, D., 2017. Book Review: Wall Heritage and Tourism: The Heritage Industry of Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie by S.Frank (Routledge 2016). Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2016. Review of 'Tourism, Performance and Place: A Geographic Perspective' by J.M. Rickley-Boyd, D.C. Kundsen, L.C. Braverman and M.M. Metro-Roland (Ashgate, 2014). Social and Cultural Geography, 17(3), 464-465. Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2016. Review of 'Thanatourism: Case Studies in Travel to the Dark Side', edited by T. Johnston and P.Mandelartz (Goodfellow, 2016). Tourism Management, 55, 287-288. Elsevier. Published.
  • Light, D., 2016. Review of 'Cultural heritage of the Great War in Britain' by Ross Wilson (Ashgate 2013). International Journal of Heritage Studies, 22(6), 495-496. Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2015. Review of 'Heritage that Hurts' by J.Sather-Wagstaff (Left Coast Press,2011). International Journal of Heritage Studies 21(3), 2015, 303-305. Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2015. Review of 'Re-Imagining Heritage Interpretation: Enchanting the Past-Future' by R. Staiff (Ashgate, 2014). International Journal of Heritage Studies 21(2), 2015, pp 191-193. Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2014. Review of 'The Tourist Potential of Coasts and Deltas: A Look at the Romanian Coastal Areas' by Gheorghe Romanescu (Parthenon Verlag, Kaisterslautern und Mehlingen, 2012),. Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2014. Review of 'Heritage and Tourism: Place, Encounter, Engagement' edited by R.Staiff, R.Bushell and S.Watson (Routledge, 2013). Routledge. Published.
  • Light, D., 2014. Review of 'Heritage Tourism' by H.y. Park (Routledge, 2014). Routledge. Published.

Profile of Teaching PG

  • I teach on 'Managing Visitor Attractions' and 'Tourism Development and Planning' (MSc Tourism Management). I also contribute sessions to various other Masters units and supervise Masters dissertations in Tourism Management

Profile of Teaching UG

  • I teach on Understanding the Tourist (Level 4), Tourist Behaviour and Experience (Level 5) Tourist Issues and Futures (Level 6) and Visitor Attraction Management (Level 6). I also supervise undergraduate dissertations in Tourism Management

Invited Lectures

  • 14 Oct 2017 more

Grants

  • Dracula returns to Derby (Arts and Humanities Research Council, 01 Apr 2024). Awarded
  • Development of an Art Deco trail for Bournemouth (Research England, Regional Innovation Fund, 15 Feb 2024). Awarded

External Responsibilities

  • University of the Highlands and Islands, External Examiner for MSc Interpretation (2023-2027)
  • University of Bedfordshire, External Examiner (2016-2019)
  • London School of Commerce, External Examiner (2014-2016)
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University, External Examiner (2011-2016)

Qualifications

  • PhD in Heritage Interpretation (Swansea University, 1991)
  • BSc (Hons) in Geographical Sciences (Plymouth Polytechnic (CNAA), 1986)

Memberships

  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow (2020-),
  • Higher Education Academy, Fellow (2015-),
  • Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), Fellow (1986-),
  • Association for Heritage Interpretation, Member (1986-),

External Media and Press

The data on this page was last updated at 22:00 on February 17, 2026.