Tourism sustainability: economic benefits and strategies for preservation and conservation of heritage sitesin Southeast Asia

PurposeThis paper aims to provide empirical insights about the economic benefits as well as the useful strategies to preserve and conserve heritage sites in Southeast Asia. The benefits of heritage tourism include high tourist arrivals and receipts, the multiplier effects within the industry and creation of employment opportunities for the local community.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used systematic literature review of secondary data to discover the benefits and strategies for preserving and conserving heritage sites. The data were obtained from peer-review journals, documentary analysis, industrial report, working paper and books.FindingsThis paper provides empirical insights about the economic benefits as well as the useful strategies to preserve and conserve heritage sites in Southeast Asia. The benefits of heritage tourism include high tourist arrivals and receipts, the multiplier effects within the industry and creation of employment opportunities for the local community. The strategies proposed include stakeholder collaboration and involvement, stakeholder empowerment and the adaptive reuse approach.Practical implicationsThis research is useful for sites’ managers as local stakeholders are highly motivated in participating in the decision-making process on the future development of heritage sites. Involving and empowering stakeholders in heritage management programs increase the stakeholders’ values and willingness to participate in heritage preservation program. In addition, the implementation of adaptive reuse approach enables the conservation of heritage originality and values.Originality/valueThis paper has discovered three benefits and three strategies toward positive heritage management. Stakeholders’ involvement and collaboration is the easiest way to promote heritage management programs and empower stakeholders. Finally, adaptive reuse program is the hardest approach, but the most beneficial approach in maintaining the value and rejuvenating the heritage sites.

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Community perception of heritage values regarding a global monument in Ghana: Implications for sustainable heritage management

Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences ◽

10.1108/jhass-01-2021-0010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Justice Mensah

Keyword(s):

Local Community ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Local People ◽

Inclusive Development ◽

Content Type ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Heritage Site ◽

The People ◽

Limited Opportunity

Purpose Scholarly discourses regarding heritage values for sustainable heritage management abound in heritage literature but appear elitist as they tend to exclude the perspectives of the people at the lower echelons of society. The study explored the values ascribed to a global heritage monument by the people living around a global heritage site in Ghana and the implications of their perceptual values for sustainable heritage management. Design/methodology/approach This study used the qualitative design. It was guided by Costin’s heritage values, community attachment theory and values-based approach to heritage management. Data was gathered from the local people living close to the heritage site, and the staff of Museums and Monuments Board at the heritage site. Data were gathered through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using the thematic approach and most significant stories. Findings The results revealed that the local people were aware of the economic, aesthetic, historic, symbolic and informational values of the heritage monument but showed little attachment to the monument. The main reasons for the low attachment were the limited opportunity for them to participate in the management of the monument, and the limited opportunity for direct economic benefits from the heritage asset. Research limitations/implications A comprehensive understanding of heritage monument management that reflects the perspectives and values of the local people is imperative. Practical implications United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and Ghana Museums and Monuments Board could consider a more community-inclusive heritage management framework that takes cognizance of local values and perspectives to ensure sustainable heritage management and development. Social implications The values and perspectives of the local community matter in heritage management. The heritage authorities need to engage more with the community people and educate them on the best practices regarding the sustainable management of World Heritage Sites. Originality/value This paper argues that the management of global heritage sites should not be elitist in orientation and character. It should respect the principle of community participation for inclusive development.

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Community-based management of the USAT Liberty, Bali, Indonesia

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-05-2019-0053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 217-231

Author(s):

Alqiz Lukman

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Local Community ◽

Heritage Tourism ◽

Community Based ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Content Type ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Practical Recommendations ◽

Cultural Heritage Tourism

PurposeThis study presents an example of sustainable cultural heritage tourism. The heritage tourism at the site of the ship USAT Liberty in the small fishing village of Tulamben on the northeast coast of Bali Island plays a significant role in the lives of the local people who live nearby, who actively participate in the site's management.Design/methodology/approachThis study assessed the management of the site by the local community by means of formal interviews with major stakeholders, informal conversations, and observations in the field.FindingsAlthough it lacks any direct historical connection with the local community, the reuse of the shipwreck as a tourist asset has motivated the community to participate in the conservation of the site and sustain its values. This article argues that the case of the USAT Liberty demonstrates that the management of heritage sites can be effectively sustained using bottom-up approaches.Originality/valueThe USAT Liberty case study provides insights and practical recommendations that could be valuable for other cultural heritage sites in implementing management with a bottom-up approach. This paper enriches the knowledge of community-based management and promotes it as a pathway to sustainable cultural heritage tourism.

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Industrial heritage: towards a sustainable adaptive reuse of wheat milling heritage buildings in Jordan

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-11-2020-0170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Monther Jamhawi ◽

Shatha Mubaideen ◽

Basem Mahamid

Keyword(s):

Cultural History ◽

20Th Century ◽

Local Community ◽

Adaptive Reuse ◽

Local Context ◽

Urban Context ◽

Content Type ◽

Industrial Heritage ◽

Heritage Buildings ◽

History Of

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a framework for the adaptive re-use of wheat milling buildings setting in modern urban contexts in Jordan. This paper also aims to highlight the industrial heritage with a focus on wheat milling buildings, which date back to the beginning of the 20th century, as they document and represent significant aspects of the socio-cultural history of Jordan.Design/methodology/approachThe approach to this statement will be through a theoretical investigation into the notion of industrial heritage, a historical overview of wheat milling in Jordan, as well as a case study analysis to support the theoretical framework following a value-based approach for the case of Baboor Al-Qisar. Baboor Al-Qisar is a wheat milling structure that the Department of Antiquities (DoA) is willing to adaptively reuse as an industrial museum that tells the local narrative of wheat milling and points out the non-physical values associated with the building’s original use.FindingsThe paper introduces a framework for wheat milling buildings incorporation within the modern urban context as industrial heritage museums or socio-cultural facilities. The findings offer a reflection on approaching similar case studies as a tool for their conservation, management and promotion to create new tourist destinations as a form of sustainable urban regeneration.Originality/valueThis research bridges the gap between practice and theory in terms of adaptive reuse strategies within the Jordanian local context. No similar studies have been done on wheat milling structures from the 20th century in the country with local community engagement as an integral part that is carried out within the functionality and future use of the site.

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Merging research, conservation and community engagement

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-04-2013-0012 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 184-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gloria Borona ◽

Emmanuel Ndiema

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Community Involvement ◽

Local Community ◽

Rock Art ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Content Type ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Research Programmes ◽

Research Findings ◽

Community Projects

Purpose – Archaeological, palaeontological and geological research has been conducted in Kenya for many years. These research efforts have resulted in exceptional depth of understanding of the region's cultural heritage including those with rock art. Unfortunately, very few of the research programmes have engaged communities as active participants in conservation and consumers of the research findings. The purpose of this paper is to report how collaboration between the National Museums of Kenya and the Trust of African Rock Art (TARA) is creating a link between research, conserving heritage and community engagement. Design/methodology/approach – An overview of two rock art tourism community projects undertaken by TARA will reveal that engaging communities and disseminating research findings does not only foster preservation of sites but is critical in transforming rock art sites into economic endeavours whose outcomes are providing alternative livelihoods. Findings – Community engagement remains the only viable way of ensuring long-term conservation of heritage sites going forward. Originality/value – TARA is the only organization conducting this kind of work in the African continent. This case study therefore, provides authentic information on local community involvement as a conservation strategy in the African context.

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Revitalizing the cultural heritage sites of the medieval town of Tansen for the sustainable tourism development

Nepalese Culture ◽

10.3126/nc.v8i0.27507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 127-138

Author(s):

Paras SJB Rana

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Local Community ◽

Local Population ◽

Tourism Development ◽

Local Communities ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Sustainable Tourism Development ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Tourist Destinations ◽

Natural Settings

Tansen is renowned for its natural settings, historic buildings and a living cultural heritage that have remained, from medieval period until now. By UNWTO statistics,internationally, cultural tourism comprises 39% of the total tourism arrivals. This reaffirms that offering greater access to the cultural and heritage assets would give Tansen a competitive edge over the other tourist destinations and increase its attractiveness as a top tourist destination in Nepal. This article is related to study of how the heritage sites could be revived to make the cultural heritage tourism sustainable and regain Tansen’s economic vibrancy that has been depleting in the recent times. The purpose of the study is to examine the current state of the cultural heritage management in Tansen, to examine the prospect of revitalizing the cultural heritage assets and; to examine the role of the local communities in these aspects. The methods used in the study were site observations, a key informant interview of experts including the city Mayor, tourism entrepreneurs, site mangers and opinion survey of tourists and the local community resident. The study shows that local population has a positive opinion and initial enthusiasm on the emerging tourist arrivals after the restoration of Rani Mahal, but their role is marginalized in the process. This is the key proposition to start an initiative for the local communities to actively participate in tourism development projects. ‘Revitalizing the Rani Mahal heritage’ launched through the Public Private Partnership with support from UNESCO could build the trust amongst the high end international as well as domestic tourist and attract more investments to conserve, protect and promote the heritage capital stocks for the Tansen tourism development.

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

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-07-2020-0106 ◽

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.

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Collections, local interactions, conservation and tourism aspects of monastic heritage sites in the Lake Tana region of Ethiopia: the case of Mandeba Medahinealem Monastery

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-02-2020-0026 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Abraham Genet ◽

Marshet Kebede

Keyword(s):

Tourism Development ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Heritage Conservation ◽

Systematic Observation ◽

Lake Tana ◽

Content Type ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Contemporary World ◽

The Rich

PurposeAlong with the varied values of heritages which are rationale for their safeguarding, sustainable conservation and tourism development have become central agendas in the field of heritage management in contemporary world. This study attempts to elaborate such interconnected issues at Mandeba Monastery, emphasizing not only cultural heritages but also mutually reflecting on natural features which are integral part of the monastery.Design/methodology/approachInterviewing and systematic observation alongside secondary sources were used to generate data which were analyzed thematically.FindingsBeing a site for incredible collections, Mandeba maintained a tradition of not only heritage conservation and benevolent communal interaction but also of ecological sustainability. The rich collections together with its spectacular location on the shore of Lake Tana enable Mandeba to have highly noticeable tourism potentials. However, Mandeba encounters such challenges as inadequate museum, safety and security problems, lack of sufficient budget, professional, parasitic animal damages, weak promotion and lack of tourist facilities which hamper both conservation and tourism development on the site, which need to be tackled for the overall improvement of the monastery.Originality/valueThis research is original, presenting the ground knowledge and practice regarding the relationship between heritage conservation on the one hand, and local livelihood, environmental management and tourism sustainability on the other hand, with regard to the immovable cultural/religious heritage site of Mandeba Medahinealem Monastery.

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Buffering Borobudur for socio-economic development

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-11-2013-0049 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 130-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Masanori Nagaoka

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Local Community ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Literature Study ◽

Buffer Zones ◽

Management Planning ◽

Content Type ◽

Group Interviews

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that there was a non-Eurocentric approach being attempted at Borobudur in the 1970s and 1980s. From the case of Borobudur, this research aims to provide lessons for better management practices by clarifying the development of the buffer zone concept and its potential impact on communities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper will examine an empirical literature study using topographic maps, contracts between Governments of Indonesia and Japan, documents concerning the Park Project and local newspapers as well as a sequence of one-to-one and group interviews with the key persons who were involved in the Park Project including villagers at Borobudur. Findings – The development of the Borobudur Archaeological Park began in 1979 and marks an important shift in thinking about buffer zones from a monument-centric approach to the consideration of the wider context and approaches to community participation in the context of international heritage management. Originality/value – There has not yet been a detailed study concerning the progression of the Borobudur Park establishment and implementation of the buffer zone concept per se, and its impact on local community members. Furthermore, crucial management planning documents for the establishment of the Borobudur Archaeological Park have yet to be analysed by scholars. One of the documents is entitled the Updated Former Plans and Schematic Design for Borobudur and Prambanan National Archaeological Parks Project (Updated Plan). The Updated Plan is in principle not disclosed to the public and can only be viewed with permission of the Indonesian authorities thereby lessening opportunities for research to be undertaken on how the Japan International Cooperation Agency Master Plan was modified and the Park Project was executed in the 1970s and 1980s. The author opportunely received permission to access to the Updated Plan by the authorities on 23 November 2012, which made this study possible to pursue.

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Revitalizing the cultural heritage sites of the medieval town of Tansen for the sustainable tourism development

Nepalese Culture ◽

10.3126/nc.v13i0.27507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 127-138

Author(s):

Paras SJB Rana

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Local Community ◽

Local Population ◽

Tourism Development ◽

Local Communities ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Sustainable Tourism Development ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Tourist Destinations ◽

Natural Settings

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The ex/inclusion paradox in heritage management: the Mobarak mosque in The Hague

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development ◽

10.1108/jchmsd-09-2019-0112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 259-269

Author(s):

Karim van Knippenberg ◽

Martijn Duineveld ◽

Marleen Buizer

Keyword(s):

Social Inclusion ◽

Management Practices ◽

Local Community ◽

Heritage Management ◽

Management Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Heritage Studies ◽

The Hague ◽

Critical Heritage ◽

Heritage Discourse

PurposeIn the field of critical heritage studies, it has often been argued that a more inclusive and participatory heritage management approach neutralises differences and can contribute to a more contemporary, plural, democratic and inclusive notion of heritage. Yet, the needs and aspirations of those assumed being excluded from heritage making are not always taken into account, because the analysis and critique often focussed on the dominant heritage discourses, organisations and institutions. This paper conceptualises heritage from below and explores and reconceptualises how subdominant notions of heritage relate to dominant, institutionalised conceptualisations of heritage.Design/methodology/approachBased on a case study of the Mobarak mosque in The Hague, the authors present the multiplicity of subdominant conceptualisations of heritage, the ways heritage is (expected to be) recognised and represented by the community and the complexity of issues of social inclusion/exclusion.FindingsThe authors conclude that inclusive and/or participatory heritage management practices are inclusive in name only when the needs and aspirations of those seemingly being “excluded” are not fully understood and taken into account.Originality/valueA binary heritage/non-heritage framework, the authors argue, is limited to understand matter that matters. Also the authors find that the assumption that there is a growing desire among local community groups to include their histories and related materialities as heritage in the dominant heritage discourse should be challenged.

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