Heritage justice, conservation, and tourism in the Greater Caribbean

Abstract

Heritage Justice in the Greater Caribbean is a vital component of the region’s sustainable development. Its Early Modern heritage is inextricably linked to the brutal regimes of European colonial expansion that enslaved African and Indigenous populations. Equitable and inclusive narratives, set within a framework of heritage justice, sit uneasily within the tourism landscape and are often erased or hidden in favor of histories that celebrate White colonial achievement. This article examines the port towns of St. George’s Bermuda, and Falmouth, Jamaica, to explore how policies and priorities of heritage tourism and conservation practices, are used to exclude, erase, and diminish the contributions of communities of African descent, their material histories, and disconnect communities from tourism economies. The discussion argues for a more inclusive and equitable approach to heritage tourism that champions heritage justice for under-represented communities. Ultimately, this discussion calls for a transformation of heritage, preservation policy, and tourism in the Greater Caribbean.