Cultural and Heritage Tourism and Management

Tammie J. Kaufman

• Publisher: Business Expert Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781631576027
• eBook ISBN: 9781631576034
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Industry
• Index: Business

The tourism industry continues to evolve as people's interests have changed. There has been a shift in the type of experiences sought when people travel. One of the reasons behind this is the desire for travelers to be more engaged as they travel and get to know a community through their culture and heritage. Tourists are craving authenticity. In an environment of chain restaurants, hotels, and stores people are seeking the differences of what communities offer. This book will be a guide to how a community can sustainably develop their cultural and tourism resources in order to attract and retain the sought-after cultural and heritage tourist.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Cultural and Heritage Tourism

Chapter Overview

The tourism industry continues to evolve as people’s interests have changed. There has been a shift in the type of experiences sought when people travel. One of the reasons behind this is the desire for travelers to be more engaged as they travel and get to know a community through their culture and heritage. Tourists are craving authenticity. In an environment of chain restaurants, hotels, and stores people are seeking the differences of what communities offer.

This chapter will teach you the definition of cultural and heritage tourism and the differences as well as the similarities between the two. You will be familiar with who the cultural and heritage traveler is, and what kind of experiences they are seeking, and the benefits of developing a community’s cultural and heritage product.

What Is Cultural and Heritage Tourism?

There is no agreed upon definition of what is tourism. Similarly, there is not one for heritage or cultural tourism either. Cultural and heritage tourism is sustainable tourism that is aligned with physical and/or intangible culture or heritage.

Physical Heritage

Physical heritage involves built structures and their surroundings; ­historic sites; ruins, archaeological and maritime sites; sites linked with mining, industrial, scientific and agricultural heritage; collections that house or collectively promote objects of heritage significance (for example, museums, tours, trails, and festivals) and created landscapes (for example, public gardens, parks, and lands).

Intangible Heritage

Intangible heritage can be defined as the stories, traditions, human activities, languages, art, and histories that represent a community. The intangible component of heritage tourism is often referred to as cultural tourism.

Cultural and Heritage Tourism Terminology

The use of heritage tourism and cultural tourism referring to the same segment of tourism is often seen. Based on the interconnectedness of heritage and cultural tourism it is quite difficult to define them both as two unique entities. There are more similarities than differences amongst the cultural and heritage tourists which is why when referring to either they are both under the same umbrella of cultural and heritage tourism.

Explanation of Differences Between Cultural and Heritage Tourism

The major difference between the cultural and heritage tourism is that heritage tourism is focused on the place: the landscape, historic sites, architecture, and artifacts that make a place distinctive. Cultural tourism is more experience-based with the focus on the art, stories, music, and culture that makes a community unique.

Historic preservationists are more likely to use the term heritage tourism, and arts organizations will refer to their offerings as cultural tourism. Heritage tourism offerings are more focused on the built environment as cultural tourism on the arts.¹ Not all practitioners adhere to these guidelines so there is a great deal of overlap in defining the product and experience.

Understanding the Significance of Cultural Tourism

There are four main aspects to understanding the significance of cultural heritage sites. These are key in determining the management policies of each site.² The four main aspects are as follows:

Historical Signific...

Table of contents

• cover
• Halftitle
• Title
• copyright
• abstract
• contents
• 01_Chapter 1
• 02_Chapter 2
• 03_Chapter 3
• 04_Chapter 4
• 05_Chapter 5
• 06_Chapter 6
• 07_Chapter 7
• 08_Chapter 8
• 09_Chapter 9
• 10_Bios
• 11_Index
• 12_Adpage