In our walking tour in Lincoln we learned that the Jews’ House has been made a heritage site in the city of Lincoln due to being one of the oldest stone buildings that is still standing in Britain. Jews’ House was given its name because it was home to a Jewish family in the 12th century. We believe that in order to make this attraction more inclusive and engaging for different tourist target markets it could display sign posts helping visitors in its interpretation. These sign posts could display facts and pictures or the house from when it was first built to the stage that it is currently at. In a more interactive perspective and to gain the attention of the younger generation target market, this attraction could make better use of technology to tell the story of the attraction to younger visitors and encourage them to be more engaged and understand the meanings of the site.
Jew’s House
Lincoln castle is one of the most popular attractions in Lincoln, it been built nearly 1000 years ago and has witness some of the most dramatic events in English history (Lincoln Castle, 2017). People often come to the castle for tours, where they will be told about the history and what happened here. This attraction appeals to diverse segments of visitors, as it can just be a day out trip or visitors can come for a longer period of time motivated by the history of the city.
Lincoln’s Castle
But how to make sites more engaging through the use of digital technology?
At the sites visited we visited in Lincoln, it was clear to see that they were presented in a traditional way in the eyes of a younger generation. In our opinion, these sites lack of engaging younger visitor considering today’s use of technology. In the future, the inclusion of QR scanners on some information boards (like seen at major events or festivals) could be explored, which then would redirect the visitor to a webpage on his/her phone (with some form of interactive media, for example a video). Another way which could make culture and heritage sites more engaging would be to explore the potential of APPs I tracking visitors’ location and providing historical facts and curiosities about the specific area you’re in, along with entry fees and opening times for any nearby attractions. Incorporating a mailing list and linking to social media platforms would also keep the attraction in the back of these visitors’ minds, therefore increasing the likelihood of them returning and recommending.
Reference
Lincoln Castle. (2017). History. [online] Available at: https://www.lincolncastle.com/content/history [Accessed 24 Oct. 2017].
Authors: Lacey Moore, Megan Warner, Adriana Musial
Course: Level 2, International Tourism Management