ABSTRACT
Cultural tourism, like all other forms of tourism is potentially a double-edged sword, capable of benefiting host communities, while also having the potential to destroy the cultural heritage assets that create the tourism product. Many people, though, tend to focus on only one element: cultural tourism is beneficial or cultural tourism is detrimental. The former is an optimistic perspective that explains why many local community leaders view pursuing cultural tourism through rose-tinted spectacles (UNESCO 2000). Observed negative impacts also explain why many heritage management organizations have developed conventions, charters and codes of practice to try to control tourism. Cultural tourism is not a value free activity. How one perceives its impacts, good and bad, is often a reflection of a person’s underlying values. The challenge is to bring some realism to the debate and show how proper management can optimize benefits and minimize or mitigate adverse impacts. This chapter presents an overview of the potential benefits and costs of cultural tourism to communities. It begins with a discussion of the many communities that can be affected by this activity and then discusses its impacts on quality of life.
