Preserving the cultural identity of a World Heritage Site: the impact of Chichen Itza’s souvenir vendors

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ady Milman
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Host Community ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chichen Itza

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the Maya-descent souvenir vendors in sustaining the socio-cultural heritage of Chichen Itza, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site (WHS). The study aims to understand the souvenir vendors’ social and economic position within the diverse stakeholder groups involved in the tourist attraction and their impact on visitors. Design/methodology/approach – The exploratory study applied a combination of unobtrusive participant observation and photography methods conducted throughout the site’s monuments. The data were complemented with an analysis of social media comments posted by the WHS visitors. Findings – The findings revealed that the excessive retail presence throughout the site, coupled with the souvenir vendors’ continual harassment, have negatively impacted the patrons’ visiting experience. The vendors’ retail activity was not regarded as culturally authentic and did not contribute to the socio-cultural sustainability of the host community. Research limitations/implications – The findings may lack generalization, and consequently, additional research is necessary to test the propositions presented, both at Chichen Itza and other WHS. Practical implications – The paper recommends adopting new reforms that will benefit all stakeholders involved with the site’s operation, including negotiating culture, identities and “being Maya” within the contemporary Mexican society. Re-evaluating all stakeholders’ socio-economic benefits and securing the government’s control of the site were also recommended. Originality/value – This study presents a unique case study approach that reports the tactics adopted by the souvenir vendors at the WHS site. The conversion of culture and heritage into purely economic values coupled with political power might impact the long-term sustainability of the site.

scholarly journals Cost Benefit Analysis of UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation in Nova Scotia

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-273
Author(s):  
Burc Kayahan ◽  
Brian VanBlarcom
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this research is to compare the economic benefits (defined as visitor spending) and costs of a UNESCO World Heritage (WH) designation. The study focuses on two sites in Nova Scotia; Old Town Lunenburg (designated as a WH site in 1995) and Grand Pré National Historic Site (which has applied for a WH status). Pre/post designation visitation data from Lunenburg was used to quantify the impact (6.2%) in the Nova Scotia context. A proportional (to visitation) impact was projected for Grand Pré. The analysis indicates that the level of visitation is important in determining economic viability and that the rising costs of a WH designation further challenge smaller scale attractions.

scholarly journals Assessing the hydrological impacts of agricultural changes upstream of the Tunisian World Heritage sea-connected Ichkeul Lake

2015 ◽  
Vol 365 ◽  
pp. 61-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Aouissi ◽  
Z. L. Chabaane ◽  
S. Benabdallah ◽  
C. Cudennec
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
Ichkeul Lake ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The impact of changes in agricultural land use and practices as a controlling driver of hydrologic response and as a source of diffuse pollution, are studied in the Joumine River basin, discharging into the Ichkeul Lake, northern Tunisia, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. The lake is characterized by a very specific hydrological functioning based on a seasonal alternation of water levels and salinity through its link to the Mediterranean Sea. Three Landsat images, in situ surveys and SWAT modelling were used to simulate and assess streamflows and nitrate loads under retrospective land uses.

The development of legal framework for the management of World Heritage Sites in Oman: a case study on Bahla Oasis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil ◽  
Eman Hanye Mohamed Nasr
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Heritage Sites ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The World ◽  
Heritage Legislation

PurposeThe study aims to analyze the development of Omani heritage legislation against the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC), 1972 and WHC Operational Guidelines (WHC-OGs) to predict the possible effects of the recent developments on the management of the World Heritage Site in Oman.Design/methodology/approachThis study discusses the development of the heritage protection legislation in Sultanate of Oman since 1970; it analyses the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 against the recommendations of the UNESCO WHC as well as the requirements of the World Heritage Operational Guidelines. Moreover, the research investigates the possible effects of the recent heritage legislation developments on the management of Bahla Fort and Oasis in Oman, which is the first Omani World Heritage Site and the only site with special management regulations.FindingsThe paper outlines the effects of both the Omani Cultural Heritage Law 35/2019 and the Special Management Regulations 81/2019 on the implementation of the Bahla Management Plan. Additionally, the research establishes how the customization of heritage legislation as a special heritage management regulation facilitates the implementation of national legislation to solve specific local problems.Originality/valueThe study establishes the significance of developing comprehensive legislation to protect and manage the rich Omani cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites in alignment with the WHC and the WHC-OGs.

scholarly journals Brief communication: Post-wildfire rockfall risk in the Eastern Alps

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Melzner ◽  
Nurit Shtober-Zisu ◽  
Oded Katz ◽  
Lea Wittenberg
Keyword(s):  
Fire Severity ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. In the Eastern Alps no previous research focused on the impact of wildfires on the occurrence of rockfalls. The investigation of wildfires and post-wildfire rockfalls gains new importance with respect to changes in weather extremes and rapid social developments such as population growths and tourism. The present work describes a wildfire that occurred in August 2018 in a famous world-heritage site in Austria. Indicators of fire severity and rockfall occurrence during and after the fire are described.

The Impact Between Place and UNESCO World Heritage Site in a Sociocultural Context: A’Famosa, Malacca

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 2831-2835
Author(s):  
Musaddiq Mohamad Khalil ◽  
Azahar Harun ◽  
Amer Shakir Zainol ◽  
Nurhikma Mat Yusof ◽  
Ruslan Rahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Sociocultural Context ◽  
Unesco World Heritage ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
The Impact

Participatory management of an urban world heritage site

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Dormaels
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Participatory Management ◽  
General Context ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Local Actors

Purpose – Within the general context of the Historic Urban Landscape approach and the promotion of community involvement in heritage site management, the purpose of this paper is to describe and to understand the case of Old Québec in order to analyse the management tools put in place, so as not only to grasp the issues and challenges, but also to find out how these tools are perceived by the local actors directly involved. Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual approach of this study is twofold. On the one hand, the author has adopted a phenomenological perspective of heritage, where heritage is understood as a social construction. On the other hand, because the goal of this study is to understand an initiative produced by local actors, the author chose an empirical approach that fosters first a descriptive and then an interpretive analysis of a phenomenon with potentially complex dynamics. To do so, the author chose to conduct the research by carrying out a case study, by using three methods of data collection: non-participating observation, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Findings – By analysing this case in its context, this research gives a better understanding of this community based initiative of participatory management in the world heritage site of the historic district of Old Québec. It demonstrate how these processes involves issues and challenges, even in a 20 years old inscribed site. It also highlights key elements for this type of initiative that, beyond this case, may be useful to be considered by site managers. Research limitations/implications – As with any case study, this research is highly dependent on the context, and that constitutes the main limitation. Consequently, the findings of this analysis can only be generalized as recommendations. Other case studies should be conducted to better understand the influence of context, and to bring out similarities between various initiatives. Originality/value – More than “best practices”, whose relevance may be questionable for their lack of consideration of the context, this paper aims to provide an example of participatory management and to indicate some key elements that seem to be useful for this kind of initiatives. It also raises important questions on the relevance of such management tools in context less experienced or without previous involvement of local communities. Finally, it proposes a conceptual framework and a methodological approach for the study of such cases.

scholarly journals Impacts of a health crisis on music festivals: a qualitative approach

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Orea-Giner ◽  
Francesc González-Reverté ◽  
Laura Fuentes-Moraleda
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis research explores the consequences of a health crisis provoked by a pandemic scenario on music festival impacts considered by the stakeholders involved. The purpose of this paper is to identify the perceptions from the stakeholders' point of view (host community, public and private sector) and to identify the impacts generated before and after a health crisis regarding the celebration of a festival.Design/methodology/approachThe study offers a holistic insight into impact research by music festivals. The methodology implemented is based on qualitative techniques. By conducting 20 in-depth interviews with essential stakeholders, it is possible to determine their perceptions of the impact of the event and the effects of a health crisis.FindingsThe results allow detecting a gap between internal and external stakeholders due to poor communication and planning of the event. The results show that a health crisis provokes negative impacts on the economic benefits of events' organisation. However, the cultural city's identity suffers an important damage that it is difficult to overcome. The community and visitors are the stakeholders that suffer a detrimental impact on their experience when attending the festival, considering the security measures. Moreover, results allow us to identify practical implications for event management and planning in a health crisis scenario.Originality/valueThe most important contribution of this research is the theoretical model proposed to analyse stakeholders' perception of the event celebration in a context of a health crisis. The model also considers different moments of the social exchange. The theoretical approaches considered theory of social exchange (SET) and Visitor, Industry, Community and Environment (VICE) models allow analysing the stakeholder's perception of a case study of a music festival (Viña Rock Festival, Spain). The emerging and central role of the cooperation between stakeholders constitutes another notable contribution to the literature.

scholarly journals The Role of Pentahelix Actors for Sawahlunto City to be Deemed a Unesco World Heritage

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Reza Permadi ◽  
Fahriza Junizar ◽  
Nurul Aldha Mauliddinna Siregar ◽  
Ute Lies Siti Khadijah
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Government Regulation ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Mining City ◽  
Heritage Site

The coal mine closures have turned Sawahlunto into an idle city. By integrating the post-mining sites landscape and the Dutch colonial architecture heritage, Sawahlunto becomes a city of a kind. Therefore, the local government and the legislature (DPRD) as well as other stakeholders created a vision for Sawahlunto as a “A Cultural Tourism Mining City” in 2020, set in Local Government Regulation (PERDA) No 2 of 2001. The year 2020 was set as a target to motivate the local government and stakeholders to achieve the vision. As a matter of fact, Sawahlunto has been included as a World Heritage site by UNESCO as of 2019. This research aims to understand the role of stakeholders in developing and rebranding Sawahlunto, by using the Pentahelix model. This research uses a qualitative method along with the case study approach as well as utilizing interviews, observations and archival study as the types of research methodology. Finally, the result of this research shows that the stakeholders carry out their roles well and fully support the vision of Sawahlunto city.

scholarly journals Jatio Sangsad Bhaban: Aspiring to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4(S)) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Bayezid Ismail Choudhury
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Unesco World Heritage ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The People ◽  
Unesco World Heritage Site ◽  
Culture Heritage ◽  
The Impact

The Jatio Sangsad Bhban (JSB) or the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh is an internationally renowned architectural masterpiece designed by eminent 20th-century American architect Louis I. Kahn. Its unique Architectural merit makes it one of the most significant buildings of the 20th century. The impact of this iconic building encompasses all spheres of Bengal life including culture, heritage, ethos and lifestyle. Its architectural values also evoke national identity, symbolizing the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. However, despite its international and national material, social and human significance, it is yet to be nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). This paper argues for the potential of the JSB to become a WHS.

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