Reflections on the myth of tourism preserving " traditional" agricultural landscapes

M. Jansen-Verbeke, Robert Douglas McKercher

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic research

Abstract

The renewed interest in “cultural landscapes” is a global phenomenon to be explained in a multi dimensional way. The process of revalorising traditional habitats, people and their way of living in a particular environment, is closely linked to the introduction of heritage as “a cultural, social and economic construct”. The recognition of cultural landscapes as a new category on the world heritage list (UNESCO) since the 1990s, emphasises the importance of the human-environment interaction and the need for understanding the dynamics of landscapes in time and space. Values are changing and new opportunities emerge for a “dynamic preservation” of iconic landscapes and traditional communities. A cross disciplinary understanding of interacting processes is essential to plan and manage sustainable heritage(land)scapes. Various pilot projects and case studies—world-wide—lead to critical reflections about the sustainability of heritage landscapes and the sovereign role of tourism. The perspective of “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites” (GIAHS), supported by economic resources generated by tourism, requires a research-based approach analysing opportunities and expectations, assessing strategic policies and top down politics.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)242-249
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Resources and Ecology
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Heritage landscapes
  • Territorial cultural resources
  • Community based tourism
  • Tourismification
  • Integrated management model
  • Myths

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