Energy tourism at nuclear power plants: between educational mission and retention of "Safety myth"

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Energetinis turizmas; Branduolinis turizmas; Atominis turizmas; Branduolinės jėgainės; Ignalinos branduolinė jėgainė; Tornesso branduolinė jėgainė. Keywords: Energy tourism; Nuclear tourism; Atomic tourism; Nuclear power plants; Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant; Torness Nuclear Power Station.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Škotija (Scotland); Atominės elektrinės; Turizmas; Švietimas; Nuclear power plants; Education; Tourism.

ENThis chapter has two principal objectives: first, to conceptualize the recent development in energy tourism by giving special attention to nuclear tourism as a distinct form of energy tourism and illuminating the educational potential of nuclear tourism sites and tours. Second, the chapter provides an explorative field research study of nuclear energy tourism in Scotland and Lithuania. The case study is based on field trips and observations conducted while visiting two energy tourism attractions – the Torness Nuclear Power Station and Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) with Visitor Centres at these nuclear industry facilities. Features of nuclear tourism at atomic reactors and their premises are described in the chapter by pointing out the expansion of activities and target groups, going beyond the concept of expert- oriented tourism and moving to experience-oriented tourism, energy literacy, STEM education and orientation to wider groups of citizens and tourists (schoolchildren, families, etc.). The authors of the chapter shed light on energy and nuclear tourism as an open and covert corporate branding and seek to shape positive attitudes of consumers and citizens towards the nuclear energy industry. The nuclear companies deploy tourism and educational activities (STEM education) to build citizens’ perception of safety and security in the industry and strengthen pro- nuclear attitudes. Taking into consideration these aims of nuclear energy industry, a critical approach towards tourist attractions and educational sites at nuclear power plants has been employed by the authors. [From the publication]

• Linking educational tourism to school curriculum: elaborating a nuclear tourism route in Ignalina nuclear power plant region / Natalija Mažeikienė, Odeta Norkutė, Genovaitė Kynė. Discovering the new place of learning / editor Natalija Mažeikienė. Berlin : Peter Lang, 2022. P. 195-241.
• Negotiating post-nuclear identities through tourism development in the "atomic town" Visaginas / Natalija Mažeikienė and Eglė Gerulaitienė. Journal of Baltic studies. 2022, vol. 53, no. 3, p. 437-457.