ABSTRACT
As with any other form of tourism, certain more general aspects linked to motivations and expectations of the different stakeholder groups, including producers and consumers, need to be taken into account in the development of heritage tourism. Economic growth, job creation, distribution of resources, division of incoming returns and the meeting of market demands need to be considered. However, issues relating to the complexities of the political and power dynamics associated with heritage tourism development are probably more pronounced in this form of tourism than in any other. Heritage tourism is open to controversy and contestation because of its ability to be used as a source for the construction and affirmation of identities and the communication of political messages.
