Exploring Place Identity and Local Heritage Commodification: A Comparative Study of Locally Born Residents and Internal Migrants in Sibiu

In a global context where population mobility is an important phenomenon, the relationship between individuals’ attitudes towards place identity and cultural heritage is insufficiently documented in relation to the dimension of internal migration. This study developed a framework to explore how individuals’ status as internal migrants is related to their perceptions of place identity and attitudes toward the commodification of local cultural heritage. This interplay was examined in Sibiu, a Romanian city where cultural dynamism and the attraction of new internal migrants were stimulated by its designation as a European Capital of Culture in 2007. Using survey data collected from over 900 residents of Sibiu and employing logistic regression analysis, the differences in terms of assessments of place identity and attitudes towards local heritage commodification between locally born residents and internal migrants were examined after controlling for various socioeconomic variables. The results revealed significant differences: compared to internal migrants, locally born residents assigned higher importance to iconic buildings, architecture, and traditions as components of the place identity and, at the same time, expressed greater concern about potential heritage damage resulting from commodification. This study contributes to the scholarship focused on understanding social representations of cultural heritage in a local context.Trial registration: Netherlands National Trial Register identifier: ntr-.