| Cultural tourism, public archaeology, heritage tourism, | | | | the needs of both visitors, researchers, and local |
| ecotourism, or whatever vocabulary you believe best | | | | residents. Finding this balance is the challenge. |
| describes this growing segment of the tourism sector | | | | All parties must be well briefed in the importance of |
| and the field of archaeology, is made up of a global | | | | approaching cultural tourism in a sustainable manner; |
| industry that has significant magnitude. The Travel | | | | this includes education and planning for preservation |
| Industry Association of America and Smithsonian | | | | and protection of prehistoric, historic, cultural, and |
| Magazine (2003) revealed that 81% of traveling adults | | | | natural resources of an area. These are irreplaceable |
| from the United States were considered historic | | | | resources and this fact needs to be stressed by and |
| cultural travelers - a 13% increase since 1996. And | | | | to all members including guides, archaeologists, |
| according to Belize's Immigration Department, in 2004 | | | | educators, students, and individuals in the tourist |
| over half of 230,000 visitors to Belize were from the | | | | industry. |
| U.S., and a good portion of them certainly would be | | | | As suggested by J. Carman and S. Keitumetse |
| part of that 81% who consider themselves cultural | | | | (Talking About Heritage & Tourism, May 2005, |
| travelers. | | | | The Society for American Archaeology, The SAA |
| Although heritage tourism can have a negative impact | | | | Archaeological Record), where tourism and culture |
| on a community and its surrounding area, if it is planned, | | | | interact, communities will always be a portion of the |
| executed properly, and numerous partnerships are | | | | equation and are necessary subjects for any heritage |
| established it can provide many benefits including: | | | | research. Realizing that culture is about differences |
| ~ creating jobs and businesses; | | | | and tourism is about the experience of the cultural |
| ~ increasing tax revenues; | | | | differences "emphasizes that the nature of the |
| ~ diversifying the local economy; | | | | experience should be focused on, not how cultural |
| ~ creating opportunities for partnerships; | | | | processes could be saved from the impact of |
| ~ attracting visitors interested in history and | | | | tourism". Certainly there is a need to be aware of "the |
| preservation; | | | | impact of tourism" but to concentrate solely on this |
| ~ increasing prehistoric and historic attraction revenues; | | | | aspect misses the point of cultural tourism and the |
| ~ preserving local traditions and culture; | | | | positive influences it can have. This impact of tourism is |
| ~ generating local investment in historic resources; | | | | often viewed as a negative and sometimes is thought |
| ~ building community pride in heritage; | | | | to destroy or modify the authenticity of an area. But |
| ~ and increasing awareness of the site or area's | | | | one must keep in mind that culture is not pure, it is not |
| significance. | | | | beyond impact; very few communities or areas are |
| FROM: National Trust for Historic Preservation, | | | | beyond influence of some sort or another. |
| October 2006. | | | | Through the coordination and forging of alliances with |
| Through emphasis on the integration of cultural | | | | numerous organizations the negative side of cultural |
| education, archaeological interpretations, community | | | | and heritage tourism as well as ecotourism can be |
| health, and tourism these benefits can be | | | | balanced out by the positive effects of these |
| accomplished. | | | | partnerships and programs. The Lamanai |
| Although the benefits are numerous and there have | | | | Archaeological Project along with its affiliates: the local |
| been obvious positive effects of heritage tourism in the | | | | residents, archaeologists, tour operators, government |
| Lamanai area in northern Belize, every effort must be | | | | officials, and non-profit organizations hope to continue |
| pursued to not destroy what attracts visitors in the | | | | to foster the positive impacts of heritage tourism in the |
| first place. Although today's travelers are seeking a | | | | area surrounding Lamanai, in northern Belize. We will |
| more authentic experience, this experience should not | | | | continue to seek expertise and assistance from |
| be contrived. A good program should find the fit | | | | individuals within these organizations to further our |
| among the community, the archaeological project, and | | | | efforts. |
| tourism. There should be a healthy balance between | | | | |