The Role of Tourism in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage with Particular Relevance for South Africa
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THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE WITH PARTICULAR RELEVANCE FOR SOUTH AFRICA by COLIN JAMES VAN ZYL Dissertation presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Stellenbosch Department of History (Cultural History) Promoter: Dr. M. Burden Co-promoter: Prof. A.M. Grundlingh APRIL 2005 Declaration I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any university for a degree. Signature: ___________________ Date: ___________________ SUMMARY Three decades ago heritage tourism was virtually unknown as a tourism product and the only reference to the word ‘heritage’ was in the description of a legal process in a will by which a person received some or other form of inheritance. This formerly legal term has in recent times undergone a fundamental expansion and now includes almost any intergenerational exchange or relationship. A growing commercial heritage industry has now established itself by converting the past into products and experiences. One of the foremost vehicles in this process has been that of tourism. Tourism, in spite of its economic-generating capacity is not an homogenous industry and consequently does not necessarily feel compelled to subscribe to the standard principles governing sustainability. However, there is an increasing awareness in the formal tourism industry of the advantages of subscribing to these principles, if not for any other reasons than those related to good business practice. Tourists from around the world are increasingly demanding a more responsible tourism product that supports the conservation of the natural as well as the cultural environment. The conservation of cultural resources and the process of its conversion into tourism products can provide the impetus and the incentive necessary for reviving cultural identity. This in turn has the effect of creating a favourable developmental climate for new heritage tourism products which the market needs in its continuous search for innovation and diversification. The characteristics of South African tourism products are in line with global market trends for cultural heritage tourism and there is evidence of increased co-ordination of initiatives in this regard. South Africa has been singled out by the World Tourism Organisation in their Tourism 2020 Vision (WTO 1998) as one of six countries predicted to make great strides in the tourism industry during the period leading up to 2020. Whilst South Africa has tremendous advantages in the global tourism market, it also has some critical challenges. Foremost amongst these are a lack of capacity in some areas and its inability to consistently meet international standards in terms of product quality and service levels. In addition to these supply-related operational shortcomings, there is evidence that the state of the cultural heritage product does not entirely meet international standards. If South Africa is to conserve its cultural heritage (in the face of modern pressures, such as changing values occasioned by the rapid pace of urbanisation) the recognition of these important resources should be followed by strong national policies with appropriate structures to accommodate best practice in the sustainable management thereof. OPSOMMING Drie dekades gelede was erfenis-toerisme feitlik onbekend as ‘n toerismeproduk en die enigste verwysing na die woord ‘erfenis’ was in die beskrywing van ‘n regsproses in ‘n testament waardeur ‘n persoon een of ander vorm van erfporsie ontvang het. Hierdie eertydse regsterm het in die onlangse tyd ‘n wesentlike ontwikkeling ondergaan en sluit nou amper enige intergeneratiewe uitruiling of verwantskap in. ‘n Groeiende erfenis- bedryf is nou gevestig deurdat die verlede omskep word in produkte en ervarings. Een van die voorste mediums in hierdie proses van omskepping is dié van toerisme. Ten spyte van sy ekonomies-genererende kapasiteit is toerisme nie ‘n homogene bedryf nie en is derhalwe nie gebind om te hou by die standaard beginsels van volhoubaarheid nie. Daar is nietemin ‘n toenemende bewuswording in die formele toerismebedryf van die voordele wat verband hou met die onderskrywing van hierdie beginsels, al is dit net vir die doel van goeie sakepraktyk. Toeriste van oor die hele wêreld dring toenemend aan op ‘n meer verantwoordelike toerismeproduk wat die bewaring van die natuurlike sowel as die kulturele omgewing onderskryf. Die bewaring van kulturele hulpbronne en die proses van omskepping tot toerismeproduk kan die stukrag en die nodige insentief bied vir die vernuwing van kulturele identiteit. Hierdie proses kan meebring dat daar ‘n gunstige ontwikkelingsklimaat ontstaan vir nuwe erfenis-toerisme produkte wat die mark benodig in sy voortdurende soeke na vernuwing en afwisseling. Die kenmerke van die Suid-Afrikaanse toerisme-produkte is in ooreenstemming met dié van globale markneigings vir kulturele erfenis-toerisme en daar is tekens van toenemende koördinasie van inisiatiewe in hierdie verband. Suid-Afrika is deur die Wêreld Toerismeorganisasie (WTO) uitgesonder in sy Tourism 2020 Vision (WTO 1998) as een van ses lande waar groot vooruitgang (great strides) voorspel is vir die periode tot en met 2020. Terwyl Suid-Afrika groot voordele het in die globale toerismemark is daar ook enkele kritieke uitdagings. Die belangrikste hiervan is die gebrek aan kapasiteit in sekere gebiede en die land se onvermoë om internasionale standaarde ten opsigte van produk-kwaliteit en dienslewering op ‘n konsekwente basis te handhaaf. Bo en behalwe hierdie verskaffing-verwante operasionele tekortkominge is daar ook tekens dat die toestand van die kultuurerfenisproduk nie heeltemal voldoen aan internasionale standaarde nie. Indien Suid-Afrika sy kulturele erfenis gaan bewaar is dit belangrik dat die erkenning wat aan hierdie betekenisvolle hulpbronne verleen word opgevolg moet word met sterk nasionale beleid en toepaslike strukture om die beste praktyk in volhoubare bestuur te verseker. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Dr. M Burden for her unselfish guidance and friendly motivation, to see this study through to its successful conclusion • Professor A M Grundlingh for critical expert advice and availability at all times in providing formative suggestions • Ms C Harmsen for her friendly guidance, administrative advice, text processing and the ultimate expert production of this document • My wife Althea for her long-suffering indulgence and emotional support • All honour to Him, who makes all things possible. C J van Zyl April 2005 THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE WITH PARTICULAR RELEVANCE FOR SOUTH AFRICA CONTENTS Page Number INTRODUCTION 1 Identification and formulation of problems motivating this study 1 Hypothesis 2 Objectives 2 Scope of this study 3 Definitions 3 Culture 3 Heritage 5 Heritage Tourism 8 Research methods and evaluation of sources 9 Structure of thesis 10 CHAPTER 1 THE RELEVANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN CULTURAL HERITAGE 11 1.1 The tourist and the tourism system 11 1.1.1 A brief history of tourism definitions 11 1.2 Historical overview of tourism 16 1.3 The structure and organisation of the tourism industry 19 1.3.1 The components of tourism and their inter-relationship 20 1.3.2 Tourism attractions and their characteristics 24 1.3.3 The tourist destination and the role of image 31 1.3.4 The role of tourism in achieving political, economic and social objectives 34 1.3.4.1 Political objectives 34 1.3.4.2 Economic objectives 35 1.3.4.3 Social objectives 38 1.3.5 Tourism and the community 39 1.3.6 Tourism management principles 40 1.3.7 Travel motivation 42 1.3.8 The tourism product 44 1.3.9 Sustainable tourism 46 CHAPTER 2 THE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM 49 2.1 Introduction 49 2.2 Socio-cultural issues of tourism 50 2.2.1 The host community and impacts created through tourism 51 2.2.2 The nature of the contact 53 2.2.3 Carrying capacity 53 2.2.4 Limits of acceptable change 55 2.2.5 Social carrying capacity 57 2.2.6 Maintaining balance and harmony with the environment 60 2.3 The local community 62 2.3.1 Elements that erode the culture of local communities 65 2.4 Characteristics that influence the impact of tourism on a culture 69 2.4.1 The structure and unity of a community 69 2.4.2 Capacity to absorb new ideas 70 2.4.3 The rate of tourism development 71 2.4.4 Familiarity with foreign groups 72 2.4.5 Equitable distribution of impacts and benefits 73 2.5 Cultural heritage as a tourism product 73 2.6 The demand for heritage tourism 74 2.7 The supply of heritage tourism 76 CHAPTER 3 THE IDENTIFICATION, MANAGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION OF HERITAGE 79 3.1 Introduction 79 3.2 The identification of heritage 80 3.2.1 A need to co-ordinate and classify cultural heritage 82 3.3 The management of heritage 87 3.3.1 Issues of sustainability 88 3.3.2 The challenges that confront heritage tourism 90 3.3.3 The development of tourism infrastructure within the social and cultural dimensions of the heritage place 91 3.3.3.1 Assessment of the cultural values of the host community as a precursor to development 92 3.3.4 The involvement of host communities in the planning for heritage tourism 93 3.3.5 Benefits to the host community 95 3.3.6 The significance of pre-feasibility assessments of potential heritage tourism developments 97 3.4 The presentation and quality of heritage 100 3.4.1 Interpretation of heritage 102 3.4.1.1 Opportunities for interpretation 106 3.4.1.2 The issues of authenticity