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Responsible heritage tourists follow the rules and respect the historical resources. Photo by Dallen J. Timothy
Consuming the Cultural Past Enjoying responsible heritage tourism
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BY LINSI HE & DALLEN J. TIMOTHY, PH.D., WITH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Most leisure travel includes visiting some element of cultural heritage. World-famous cultural attractions regularly draw large masses of tourists. Smaller-scale heritage sites and destinations tend to attract niche tourist markets that are fewer in number. Most of us have participated in both mass and specialized visits to heritage places and events. Similar to nature-based forms of tourism, uncontrolled heritage tourism can have unfortunate impacts on built and living environments. Yet, this should not dissuade us from enjoying the cultural landscapes and historic environments found in every corner of the world. However, we should all be more cognizant of what we can do to minimize our impacts. Whether our travels include visiting iconic places such as the Great Wall of China or Machu Picchu, or more regional and local heritage such as attending an Eagle dance performance on the Navajo Nation in Arizona, there are certain behaviors and protocols to follow to be more responsible heritage visitors and support the principles of sustainable tourism.
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greenlivingmag.com
We should be more cognizant of our physical interactions with historic resources and living cultures, and behave accordingly. Our behavioral choices will determine what sorts of effects we will have on the cultural destination.
RESPONSIBLE VISITORS OBEY ESTABLISHED RULES OF BEHAVIOR Many archaeological sites, for example, are extremely delicate. Careless visitor actions and the sheer volume of tourists can destabilize soils and structures before, during, and after excavations.
