Cultural paradigm inertia and urban tourism

Abstract

Article 5 of the World Heritage Convention states that each World Heritage Sites (WHS) should “adopt a general policy which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community, and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes”. It is the State Party’s responsibility to devise management systems to protect the site’s heritage and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)—the exceptional cultural or natural significance of a site, which transcends national boundaries. Management Plans, as the main tool for the protection and enhancement a site, should therefore be used to create political consensus and ensure that policy translates into action. The main aim of this chapter is to demonstrate that the application of Management Plans is instrumental in the way urban WHSs can support their living communities, whilst preserving their authenticity and integrity, and thus benefitting tourism. Drawing from examples of policy put into action in different heritage sites around the globe, this chapter wants to offer a positive outlook on projects that, by responding to the needs of local citizens first, address the needs of visitors alike. Thanks to a policy framework, which enables community engagement in a heritage context, this chapter aims to prove that the real sustainable projects are the ones that are spurred on by local communities themselves. The chapter does not look at the cultural tourism phenomenon in detail, but acknowledges that, as an accelerating growth sector within the wider tourism industry, cultural tourism can be seen both as a resource and a threat. The chapter focuses instead on the heritage sector, which often takes on a reactionary or static role towards the challenge of tourism, rather than proactively addressing it by looking for a solution needed by and tailored to its citizens.