Heritage Tourism: A Comprehensive Guide to Cultural Preservation and Economic Growth, Lecture notes of Tourism

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Relevance and

Essence of

Heritage

Tourism

Heritage Tourism is relevant to every country for many

reasons. Among its benefits are:

Instills and reinforces national identity. People get to understand better who

they are and know how their ancestors lived. For example, the monarchy of the

United Kingdom led by Queen Elizabeth II makes the British more attached to

their heritage.

Generates awareness to other people. Through heritage tourism, people

become more appreciative and tolerant of other nationalities. Ordering sushi and

sashimi has been growing I popularity worldwide and is a sign of the acceptance

of exotic Japanese culture/cuisine.

Educated the tourists. Heritage tourism is the best way to learn about other

cultures and pick up some lessons along the way. A trip to Cambodia’s notorious

Choeng Ek Killing Fields reminds tourist of ills and violent political regime and

dictatorial leadership.

Creates an innovative habitat. Heritage tourism attracts knowledge-based workers. A

northern countryside excursion to Volendam and Marken in the Netherlands showcases

the contrasts between the twin fishing villages in terms of the demeanor of the folks,

beliefs, traditions, costumes, crafts, etc.

Creates a sense of pride and belonging by residents. Communities begin to espouse

a good sense of ownership for the sites; hence, they take the initiative to preserve

them. The locals living around the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka perform

rituals three times daily. They also perform weekly symbolic bathing of the relic of the

tooth of Buddha with an herbal preparation made from holy waters comprised of

scented water and fragrant flowers, which are believed to have healing powers.

Generates economic vitality. I promoting cultural attractions, tourists create jobs,

raise the household per capita, and generate business activities. The environs of the

Grand Place in Bangkok are teeming with enterprising Thais who have increase the

household income from the wares sold to hordes of tourist who flock to the historic

sites.

Components of Heritage Tourism

What exactly comprises heritage? Whenever heritage becomes the

subject of tourism activities, a heritage tourism product emerges. It is

developed, documented, marketed, and managed. A good heritage

tourism product must be authentic, appealing, accessible, and

affordable.

Forms of heritage tourism products or attractions are classified as

follows:

Landmarks, monuments, and historical sites. Tourists marvel at the

beauty of their architecture or historical value. Examples are the Eiffel

Tower in Paris, France; Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines;

and the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.

Literature and folklore. These pertain to mythology, epics,

legends, poetry, novels, theatrical presentations, riddles, and the

like. Examples are Hamlet, a masterpiece by English playwright

William Shakespeare; Si Malakas at Si Maganda, a Philippine

legend on the origin of the first man and woman; and Beowulf, a

mythological character from Sweden

Music and dances. Regarded as a universal language, music, as

well as dance, easily captivates tourists. Reggae music is Jamaica's

contribution to the world; flamenco is an engaging dance from

Spain; and sitar is an Indian musical instrument with a distinct

sound.

Arts and crafts. These include

paintings, sculptures, drawings,

photographs, films, performing arts,

handicrafts, costumes and fashion, and

even hieroglyphics. Examples of these

are the paleolithic cave paintings in

Lascaux, France that depict the life of

prehistoric men and have drawn many

tourists; the irresistible Pysanka, the

hand-decorated Easter egg with

traditional folk.

 Relics, artifacts, and antiquities. This form of

heritage tourism deals with ancient history

depicting the origins of a particular country or

tribe through literature, objects, and structures.

Examples are Stonehenge, a prehistoric ring of

standing stones in Wiltshire, England believed to

have been constructed between 3000 B.C. and

2000 B.C. and drivers that led to the construction

of the Great Wall of China and the development of

the Silkroad route; and the Tomb of Tutankhamun,

an Egyptian Pharaoh who was allegedly cursed

condemning disturbance of the dead.

Customs, traditions, and ways of

life. These include rituals, values,

habits, and norms of a society such

as wedding, burial, adulting, dining,

child-rearing, schooling, relaxation,

courtship, bathing, meditation,

buying and selling, welcoming and

send-off, traveling, body ornaments

and painting, household, and

conversation practices. Examples are

the Hanging Coffins of Sagada in

Mountain Province, Philippines

which depict how Igorot tribes bury

their dead on the side of the

mountains.

• (^) Livelihood and industries.

This form of heritage tourism

highlights the means of

livelihood of communities in

various regions and the

interesting traditions

practiced. For example, the

floating market in Bangkok,

Thailand creates a novel

experience for tourists; and

the cheese making in the

Netherlands is another

crowd-drawing cottage

industry.

• (^) Heroes and important personalities.

Tourists want to know more about the lives

and contributions to society of prominent

historical figures like war heroes, literary

and professional icons, political and

religious leaders, artists, sports celebrities,

and the like. For example, Jose Rizal's

birthplace, also called the Rizal Shrine, in

Calamba, Laguna is frequented by tourists

mainly students as his life is a full-blown

course in grades school until college in the

Philippines; the German industrialist who

saved 1,000 Jews from Hitler's gas

chambers, has been made a popular

museum in Poland as a painful reminder of

the holocaust during World War 1.

• (^) Cuisine and beverages. Food and

drinks or culinary delights fascinate

tourists that many places have

become known for their distinct

gustatory offerings-from banquets,

specialty restaurants, fastfood outlets,

pubs and bars, to the humble street

food mobile kiosks. Interesting

examples are the exciting balut (duck

egg with one-day-old chick) sold in

the streets of Manila typically served

with salt and spiced vinegar for

tourists with exotic tastes; the Napa

Valley Museum, which features a rich

history of the region best known for

producing the best wines in the US;

and the khoriatiki salad (popularly

known as Greek salad), which is a

regular fare in Mediterranean coastal

resorts in Greece.

 Parks and gardens. These include all kinds of parks and gardens

developed and cultivated by local communities, landscape artists, real

estate developers, and horticulturists. These parks and gardens may

have been built for a variety of purposes like meditation, walking and

running, or even for amusement, adventure, exhibitions, and

concerts. Examples of this form of heritage sites are the Monet's

Garden in Giverny, and the iconic Disneyland in Hong Kong.

 Technology and

transportation. These

include vehicles, tools,

weapons, equipment,

inventions, and gadgets

used by people in a

particular country or

community at specific

periods of history. Examples

of this form of heritage are

the cable car system of San

Francisco City in the US; the

MIT Museum in Boston,

Massachusetts also in the

US; and the Vikings Ship

Museum in Oslo, Norway.