Unit 2

Cultural heritage is not limited to material manifestations, such as monuments and objects that have been preserved over time. This notion also encompasses living expressions and the traditions that countless groups and communities worldwide have inherited from their ancestors and transmit to their descendants, in most cases orally.

Heritage then encompasses both the material and non-material inheritance of a society from its progenitors. Sharpley (1993) heritage is literally defined as anything we have inherited from our pastvirtually everything associated with a nations history, culture, wildlife and landscape Tangible/ intangible

Movable and immovable

Movable tangible heritage may include all material inheritances of a group of people that are capable of being displaced from their original location. Immovable tangible heritage may include material inheritances which due to size or construction may not be moved or displaced from their original location

May often be seen in museums and such other galleries where artifacts of this nature are protected and conserved Tourists would only need to go to such venues (and not exert so much effort by visiting the country of origin) to relive the past Ex. The Terracotta soldiers of China/ Sarcophagus of the Egyptian Pharaohs

Are usually seen in their original locations. Visitors will have to go to the countries of origin of their desired tangible heritage to view it Ex. The Great Wall of China/ The Pyramids of Egypt

However, the complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid their being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River. Abu Simbel remains one of Egypt's top tourist attractions.

Movable cultural objects and the museums in which they are conserved constitute exceptional repositories of cultural diversity. As points of access for knowledge about cultures and centres offormal and nonformaleducation, museums also contribute to mutual understanding and social cohesion as well as economic and human development.

This living heritage, known as intangible, provides each bearer of such expressions a sense of identity and continuity, insofar as he or she takes ownership of them and constantly recreates them.

This may include the oral history, performances, feasts, literature, and such other non-material inheritances of a society More than seeing or touching the heritage of a society, visitors are able to experience it in this form.

A phenomenon based on tourists' motivations and perceptions rather than on specific attributes The main motivation for visiting a site is based on the places heritage characteristics according to the tourists perception of their own heritage Poria et al (2001)

Nuryanti (1996) HT is characterized by two seemingly contradictory phenomena: the Unique and the Universal. Each heritage site has its unique attributes; but heritage, although its meaning and significance may be contested, reinterpreted, and even recreated, is shared by all

As it has been time and again proved that tourism has a multiplier effect in terms of employment and economic growth. However, all this is still limited mainly to the cities. To take the tourism money (and opportunities) outside the cities, we need to look for different kind of tourism.

This is how I decided to setup an organization which would utilize the potential of cultural tourism to help countryside people in reaping benefits of tourism. The current trend in tourism also favoured us and the story has been good so far. One of our products is a half-day Pottery village tour in Delhi (India). This tour is arranged in collaboration with South Asia Foundation, a non-profit working for development of the poor with an emphasis on crafts.

On this tour you will participate in various activities like making pottery, milking the cows, cooking food, etc. Also the interaction with the village communities makes the experience, culturally satisfying. Also, we arrange for pottery lessons (and accommodation, of course) for longer duration for special-interest travelers.

How this tour makes a difference A sizeable amount of money per tourist is contributed to the Village Development Fund. Each service provider gets a fixed sum for his services. The guests love the experience to shop directly from the artisans' homes (no middlemen) Local skill development - guides and other service providers

Peterson (1994) Visiting the areas which make the visitor think of an earlier time Ashworth and Goodall (1990) Is an idea compounded of many different emotions, including nostalgia, romanticism, aesthetic pleasure and a sense of belonging in time and space

Resources (buildings, artefacts)

selection targeting
Interpretation (packaging and presentation)

products

Conservation agencies

User industries

The important point is that different products, for quite different markets can be created from the same set of raw materials by varying the interpretation process

Perceived quality of the product Awareness Customer service attitude Sustainability Uniqueness Convenience Community support and involvement Management commitment and capability

Aficionados Preservationists and very professional in their study of history

Event visitors Visit sites on special occasions

tourists Away from home visiting tourist sites Casual visitors Visit the site because it is a convenient green place

Educated visitors Professionals Families or groups School children Nostalgia seekers