ABSTRACT
Why have we placed such an emphasis on establishing the foundations of a dialogue among the disciplines of archaeology and tourism? We are convinced that the sharing of ideas and data among disciplines will enhance our overall appreciation of any number of issues associated with archaeological tourism and improve our prospects for coming up with sustainable solutions for cultural, environmental, and preservation dilemmas. Among fierce competition for funding and public support, it is imperative to confirm archaeology’s relevance for the past, present, and the future. We have placed emphasis on the concept of sustainability in order to emphasize how crucial we see this for the future of archaeology and archaeological tourism. In this final chapter, we distinguish some of the main themes that arise when archaeological sites are promoted for tourism, and we reflect on the variety of case-study discussions of particular aspects as they arise in real-world scenarios. Communication, cooperation, values, and timing are all at work here but there are also loftier, mutual goals to preserve, conserve, educate, entertain, and cooperate with local communities. Much is made of the necessity of incorporating the support of local communities, although the real world all too often falls short in achieving anything close to ideal.
