Heritage signs and symbols in marketing actions: is a relationship possible? Considerations from the advertising of National Sweets Fair (Fenadoce) in Pelotas, RS, Brazil

Los signos y simbolos del patrimonio en las acciones del marketing, una relación posible? Reflexiones a partir de las campañas de la Feria Nacional del Dulce (Fenadoce) de Pelotas / RS, Brasil.

Abstract

This study emerges from the need to understand if marketing strategies consider heritage symbols and signs in tourism branding and image building. This is an exploratory study of a qualitative nature using content analysis (Bardin, 2011) to answer the research question. Identity, heritage, and marketing categories and their subcategories were identified in the literature review on the topic. After, the advertising campaigns of Feira Nacional do Doce (Fenadoce) were analyzed, to understand how the identity and intangible heritage of the ‘sweet culture’ of Pelotas (RS), Brazil, are being used by marketing managers. All categories and subcategories were found, to some extent, in the messages in the five advertising campaigns analyzed. The findings suggest that the relationship between heritage and marketing will only be possible if the first category is inserted in the second. In addition to managerial contributions, the categories and subcategories found can be used in similar studies in future research.

Keywords:
Marketing; Heritage; Identity; Tourism