Quebec Tourists in Tunisia and the Heritage of the “Authentic Self”

This article concentrates on the example of heritage tourism as it is practiced by Quebec tourists visiting historic sites in Tunisia and explores the notion of authenticity as an intangible value. It proposes the idea of the authentic self as a state of being that is conveyed through the personal thoughts and feelings expressed by tourists during and after their visits to these sites. The analysis also focuses on the intangible extension of ruins and monuments which grows and takes shape due to the tourists’ creative and generative presence.