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Heritage tourism is a branch oftourism centered around the exploration and appreciation of a region's cultural, historical and environmental heritage.[1] This form of tourism includes bothtangible elements, such ashistorically significant sites,monuments, andartifacts, as well asintangible aspects, such astraditions,customs, andpractices.[2]
A specific subset of heritage tourism,cultural heritage tourism, emphasises on the human dimension of these sites, focusing on the traditions, practices, and values that are deeply connected to them.[3] Likewise, heritage tourism focuses specifically on the history of a region, as well as itsnatural heritage.
Heritage tourism can look like visitinghistorically significant locations, engaging with local traditions (Folklore), and gaining insights into the historical and contemporary aspects of a community, culture or religion.[4]
Consequently, heritage tourism also underscores the importance of preserving cultural and historical resources. This can be extremely beneficial for a region, not only by helping in the preservation of vital customs and culture, but also by contributing to theeconomic development andsustainability of the area.[5]
In someChristian andIslamic traditions, the purpose of apilgrimage was often to honor theshrine of aprophet orsaint, such as that ofMuhammad inMecca during theIslamic pilgrimages of theHajj andUmrah. Other popular pilgrimage sites inEurope includedLourdes inFrance andCanterbury inEngland.[6] In some casespilgrims contribute significantly to theeconomies of certain regions.[7][8]
For example, the rediscovery ofancient Roman ruins atPompeii andHerculaneum stimulated an interest in thecivilizations of theancient world and travel.[9] Additionally, in the19th century, there was an increase in tourism and ingrand tours of Europe to historical sites.[10] The concept of ahistorical monument emerged in theWestern world, accompanied bytourism.[11]
Heritage tourism is promoted by theWorld Heritage Convention, which is a part ofUNESCO. This stemmed from various safeguarding campaigns. The decision to build theAswan High Dam in Egypt, including a plan to flood the valley containing theAbu Simbel temples, caused several conflicts.[12][13]
In 1959, after an appeal from the governments ofEgypt andSudan, UNESCO launched an international safeguarding campaign. Archaeological research in the areas to be flooded was accelerated. And the Abu Simbel andPhilae temples were dismantled, moved to dry ground, and reassembled.[14] The campaign cost about 80 millionUS dollars, half of which was donated by some 50 countries.
Other safeguarding campaigns, such as savingVenetian Lagoon (Italy), the archaeological ruins atMohenjo-daro (Pakistan), and restoring theBorobudur Temple Compounds (Indonesia), had been performed as well. Consequently, UNESCO initiated, with the help of the French cultural heritage organization,ICOMOS, the preparation of a draft convention on the protection of cultural heritage.
Heritage tourism increasedin China in the 1990s and resulted in more tourism to small towns.[15]: 327
Culture, heritage andthe arts have contributed to the appeal oftourist destinations.[17] Cultural heritage tourists might travel to see performances and productions of intangible heritage associated with the history of certain regions.Revenue from this form of tourism can be transferred tolocal economies, it can alsoappropriate cultural heritage forentertainment.[18][19] Heritage tourism can sometimes be supported bymunicipalities through promotion andtourist information in their administrative units, e.g., cities such asPoland'sWarsaw.[20]
Cultural heritage[21]tourism involves visits to immovable historic sites which might include industrial sites such asfortifications,transportation facilities, and other sites that might show the technologies of the past.[22] The purchase ofcultural goods, includingnumismatic coins,antiquarian books, andantiques, can also be associated with heritage tourism when collectors travel to those locations.
Tourism organizations in these regions can offer specialized visits that allow tourists to experience thegastronomic heritage associated with multiple brands.[23][24] For example,Brittany (France), is associated withGalette, whileNormandy is associated withCalvados.[25] In theUnited States, the region known as theOld Bourbon is associated withBourbon whiskey production.[26]
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Natural heritage tourism involves visits to natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations,geological andphysiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute thehabitat ofthreatened species of animals and plants, natural sites, or precisely delineated natural areas.[27][28]
Benjamin W. Porter andNoel B. Salazar haveethnographically documented that cultural heritage tourism can create tensions and even conflict among the different stakeholders involved.[29]
The effect onindigenous peoples whose land and culture are being visited by tourists has been considered a problem. In Mexico, tourism increased because of the predictedend of the Maya calendar. Someactivists[who?] claim the indigenousMaya are not benefiting from the traffic.[30] However, heritage tourism has sometimes contributed to the economies of certain regions, for example, heritage tourism contributed 50 millionpounds toOrkney's economy in 2017.[31]
Colonial officials employed fieldworkers' notes, books and fieldwork to understand aboriginal people.[32][33]
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