Cultural & Heritage Tourism Chiara Gledhill
“Traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”
“…while contributing to the
conservation and restoration of cultural resources and the economic well-being of the community.”
Historic, cultural, natural
Every community has the ability to become a cultural hub.
Is the community interested in sharing its legacy with tourists?
Does a target market exist?
Are aspects of the community unusual, intriguing, educational, entertaining, or exotic?
Is infrastructure (logistical, etc.) present?
Safety? Convenience? Preservation?
Consider balance between preservation and sharing the resource with visitors
Maintenance over time
Truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions.
Affiliate
1.
Partnerships Funders Volunteers Community involvement
2.
Fund
3.
Identify
4.
Develop
5.
Market, market, market!
Shakti Ladakh “I want people to fall in love with India all over again, for them to connect with the essence of the place, its people, its culture.”
Homestays strung across several different villages Guests can hike or raft from home to home Modern living amenities provide comfort in a traditional culture
“Living communities”
Farms, landscape, climate Prayer halls, monasteries Buddhist burial grounds Residents unburdened by technology and visitor conflict Ancient rural traditions
Celebrates, preserves, and promotes an area’s unique heritage; increases opportunities for and participation of local citizens; boosts economic development.
“I’m not being cut off from the community, which is so often the lot of the Westerner in India…I’m being allowed to experience the everyday, the unpackaged, the unremarkable—all at the pace of a walk. For the first time in years I’m being forced to slow down, made to think about how to travel in a place without contributing to its demise.”