Virtual tourism as a viable option for destroyed cultural heritage sites: The Skaptopara case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/0867-5856.2026.22Keywords:
virtual tourism, digital heritage, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reconstruction, archaeological tourism, immersive technologiesAbstract
The irreversible destruction of cultural heritage sites poses significant challenges for heritage preservation, tourism development and public access to historical knowledge. This article examines the potential of virtual tourism to function as a primary mode of heritage engagement in cases where physical sites no longer exist. The study focuses on the ancient settlement of Skaptopara in southwestern Bulgaria, which was archaeologically documented but subsequently demolished during infrastructure development in 2018. Using digital reconstruction and virtual visualization techniques, a three-dimensional model of the site was created prior to its destruction. The article analyzes how such virtual reconstructions can support tourism-related engagement, education and cultural interpretation in the absence of material remains. The results section analyzes the tourism, educational and cultural value of the virtual reconstruction. The findings suggest that virtual tourism can operate not merely as a complementary tool to traditional visits, but as a legitimate and necessary form of tourism practice under conditions of irreversible heritage loss. By repositioning virtual tourism as a means of sustaining cultural memory and accessibility, the study contributes to broader discussions on the evolving nature of tourism experiences in the digital age.
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