ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyses the economic dimension of heritage assets, in terms of both related business activities and attempts to make these assets more economically productive, i.e. greater sources of income. It explores the issues of heritage asset financing and wealth management in the arts sector. The book examines the difference between the price and value of a cultural and landscape asset and outlines the main methodologies used to value such heritage assets. It considers services related to cave visits, such as speleological museums, bookshops and photo and gadget vendors in the cave vicinity. The book analyses a series of European and US cases of successful heritage asset management – particularly with regard to the generation of economic and social value for the local community.