Page 65 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol. 3(1) (2015). Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press.
P. 65
ia universitatisHeritage Tourism – Tourism There are, however, a number of additional
6 | m. koščak – the challenges for sustainable tour ism development ... 65 Profiles, Issues… factors that should be borne in mind when dea-
ling with natural and cultural heritage (Source:
Creating a visitor profile of the kind of tourists Tourism in Europe – at a crossroads?):
interested in natural and cultural heritage tou-
rism is very difficult due to their diversity of in- – Cultural and the environmental heritage
terests and the general lack of targeted market cannot be produced: They exist because of
research. Thus, only general comments can be gi- history and geography and cannot be crea-
ven here, based on the results of practical experi- ted easily in the short term. This means that
ence in different tourism destinations. Tourists destinations need to work with what they
in search of natural and cultural heritage seem have. If their intrinsic appeal is low or only
to look for a wide range of different attractions moderate it will be very difficult for the area
and activities designed to satisfy different ne- to gain a competitive edge over other desti-
eds, be they for learning, relaxation, recreation nations.
or adventure, amongst others. The following are
some examples of activities that can be develo- – Cultural and natural attractions are mostly
ped using natural and cultural heritage and are a public resource: Tourists rarely have to pay
related to cultural tourism: to see nature and most of culture – e.g. to
visit nature reserves, landscapes, village ar-
– festivals and events, banquets; chitecture…. It is therefore mostly the pri-
– music, theatre, shows; vate businesses, who develop a derived pro-
– village life and rural life (e.g. farms, Sunday duct around this public resource, that reap
the economic rewards. But there is no au-
markets,); tomatic mechanism for ensuring that some
– gastronomy, visiting/tasting local products; of this income is put back into maintaining
– general sightseeing, village buildings and and enhancing the cultural and natural he-
ritage itself.
‘atmosphere’ ;
– visiting historic and religious monuments – Damage to natural and cultural resources
are extremely difficult to measure: Tourism
or vernacular buildings, ruins; inevitably impacts on the natural and cultu-
– famous people in the region. ral resources of a particular destination but
its interrelationship is extremely complex
It is also worth mentioning that nature and and very difficult to quantify. There is no
culture orientated tourists are also strongly in- universal formula for determining carrying
fluenced by the quality and type of accommoda- capacities for sites (i.e. the number of people
tion and food on offer. It seems that tourists in that can visit the site without causing signi-
search of nature or culture are rarely attracted to ficant damage to it) as so much depends on
large luxury hotels. They will be much more in- the particular circumstances of the area.
terested in smaller establishments of good quali-
ty which provide a personal service and a certa- – Finally, the pricing structure of heritage-ba-
in level of comfort and quality - the demand for sed tourism is not as clear as in other servi-
two and three star accommodation is general- ces or other forms of tourism. There is lit-
ly very strong. There is also a small but growing tle guidance available in this area due to the
proportion of tourists looking for character lack of established benchmarks. Compara-
and »charm« in their accommodation. Rural ble attractions in other regions might exist
accommodation, family hotels and pensions that but in a different economic climate which
use local quality crafts or are located in vernacu- makes comparisons difficult. Consequen-
lar buildings are becoming increasingly popular. tly, businesses might be pricing themselves
6 | m. koščak – the challenges for sustainable tour ism development ... 65 Profiles, Issues… factors that should be borne in mind when dea-
ling with natural and cultural heritage (Source:
Creating a visitor profile of the kind of tourists Tourism in Europe – at a crossroads?):
interested in natural and cultural heritage tou-
rism is very difficult due to their diversity of in- – Cultural and the environmental heritage
terests and the general lack of targeted market cannot be produced: They exist because of
research. Thus, only general comments can be gi- history and geography and cannot be crea-
ven here, based on the results of practical experi- ted easily in the short term. This means that
ence in different tourism destinations. Tourists destinations need to work with what they
in search of natural and cultural heritage seem have. If their intrinsic appeal is low or only
to look for a wide range of different attractions moderate it will be very difficult for the area
and activities designed to satisfy different ne- to gain a competitive edge over other desti-
eds, be they for learning, relaxation, recreation nations.
or adventure, amongst others. The following are
some examples of activities that can be develo- – Cultural and natural attractions are mostly
ped using natural and cultural heritage and are a public resource: Tourists rarely have to pay
related to cultural tourism: to see nature and most of culture – e.g. to
visit nature reserves, landscapes, village ar-
– festivals and events, banquets; chitecture…. It is therefore mostly the pri-
– music, theatre, shows; vate businesses, who develop a derived pro-
– village life and rural life (e.g. farms, Sunday duct around this public resource, that reap
the economic rewards. But there is no au-
markets,); tomatic mechanism for ensuring that some
– gastronomy, visiting/tasting local products; of this income is put back into maintaining
– general sightseeing, village buildings and and enhancing the cultural and natural he-
ritage itself.
‘atmosphere’ ;
– visiting historic and religious monuments – Damage to natural and cultural resources
are extremely difficult to measure: Tourism
or vernacular buildings, ruins; inevitably impacts on the natural and cultu-
– famous people in the region. ral resources of a particular destination but
its interrelationship is extremely complex
It is also worth mentioning that nature and and very difficult to quantify. There is no
culture orientated tourists are also strongly in- universal formula for determining carrying
fluenced by the quality and type of accommoda- capacities for sites (i.e. the number of people
tion and food on offer. It seems that tourists in that can visit the site without causing signi-
search of nature or culture are rarely attracted to ficant damage to it) as so much depends on
large luxury hotels. They will be much more in- the particular circumstances of the area.
terested in smaller establishments of good quali-
ty which provide a personal service and a certa- – Finally, the pricing structure of heritage-ba-
in level of comfort and quality - the demand for sed tourism is not as clear as in other servi-
two and three star accommodation is general- ces or other forms of tourism. There is lit-
ly very strong. There is also a small but growing tle guidance available in this area due to the
proportion of tourists looking for character lack of established benchmarks. Compara-
and »charm« in their accommodation. Rural ble attractions in other regions might exist
accommodation, family hotels and pensions that but in a different economic climate which
use local quality crafts or are located in vernacu- makes comparisons difficult. Consequen-
lar buildings are becoming increasingly popular. tly, businesses might be pricing themselves
