Marketing Cold War tourism in the Belgian Congo : a study in colonial propaganda 1945-1960
Date
2014-12
Authors
Wigley, Andrew Paul
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the nascent colonial tourist sector of the Belgian Congo from 1945 until
independence in 1960. Empire in Africa was the last remaining vestige of might for the depleted
European imperial powers following the Second World War. That might, however, was largely
illusory, especially for Belgium, which had been both defeated and occupied by Germany. Post-war
Belgium placed much value on its colonial role in the Belgian Congo, promoting and marketing its
imperial mission to domestic and international audiences alike. Such efforts allowed Belgium to
justify a system that was under fire from the new superpowers of the United States of America (USA)
and the Soviet Union. This thesis makes the case that the Belgian authorities recognised the
opportunity to harness the ‘new’ economic activity of tourism to help deliver pro-colonial
propaganda, particularly to the USA which had a growing affluent class and where successive
administrations were keen to encourage overseas travel. In building a tourism sector post the Second
World War, efforts in diversifying the economy were secondary to the objective of using the
marketing of tourism to actively position and promote Belgium’s long-term involvement in the
Congo.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
Keywords
Tourism -- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- History -- 20th century, Colonization -- Belgium -- History, Belgium -- Relations -- Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Colonization -- History, Dissertations -- History, Theses -- History, Colonial propoganda -- Belgium -- History -- 20th century