Heritage tourism: Reconciling urban conservation and tourism

Abstract

As a result of urbanisation and globalisation, many ancient and new settlements in the world have lost the features which define their identity. In the east African Coast, such features are fast disappearing. This erosion of the architectural heritage is closely linked with the loss of a socio-cultural identity and consequently resulting in the deterioration of the quality of urban life. Various means have been tried to try to improve this historic built environment, with the symbiosis of both tourism and heritage places becoming a major objective in the management and planning of historic areas. With sustainable settlement being a global concern, and within the context of the historic urban areas of Lamu and Mombasa Old Towns, this paper explores the current conflicts among the ideas of urban conservation, heritage and tourism, arguing that the most sustainable approach to management of historical areas is the one based on community and culture-led agenda. In terms of the sustainability of heritage places, it is viewed in this study that managing tourism can have substantial inherent potential to underpin sustainable development and urban conservation. It will be concluded that, tourism can have positive attributes for conservation and development in heritage places. © 2013 WIT Press.