Mountain heritage and sustainable tourism

Abstract/Description

Mountain regions face the need to reformulate sustainable development systems. In the last decade, exploitation pressure in mountain regions has increased, mainly the inclusion of unique nature into the mass tourism system on the one hand, while on the other hand, ecological awareness, nature protection and the need to preserve heritage have also increased. There is a need to build new cultural resilience in mountain areas, as a factor of a new sustainable development system in the mountains. Cultural resilience in the mountains is understood as a holistic integration of the cultural and natural heritage into the development system. Development threats to mountain areas are as follows: urban deculturalization of the mountain cities, by the large hotel investments, overtourism disturbing the ecosystem, trivialization of cultural localism. The challenges are to build cultural resilience of mountain areas, which would also become part of sustainable tourism in the mountains. Using the case of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane as an example, the possibilities of building a cultural resillience in the context of tourism are presented. The case study presents: the potentials for “slow-tourism” routes, integrations the routes with the existing architectural and industrial monuments, as well as, the inclusion of the literary and philosophical heritage of the Tatra Mountains. These aspects are indicating the inclusion of culture in the processes of the changing the system of sustainable development in the mountains.

Abstract/Description

The Highlands of Scotland are characterised by sustainability challenges common to other rural areas of Europe. These include depopulation, loss of public services, shortage of affordable housing and environmental degradation. The Highlands have also experienced a huge increase in tourism over the last 20 years. While providing economic benefit and development opportunities, the distribution of positive and negative impacts of tourism on communities are unequal with many communities experiencing overcrowding and reduced access to housing.

This study considered how sustainable development in the north-west Highlands of Scotland has been influenced by changing tourism patterns, and how this relationship is mediated by the unique and complex cultural heritage of the region. Place-based interviews and workshops with local communities revealed the multiplicity of their relationships to their landscapes through diverse and plural cultural narratives. The research highlighted cultural heritage as a dynamic and evolving part of contemporary lives and identities, as well as representing traditions and practices of the past with narratives being particularly influenced by a sense of loss characterised by declining cultural practices. A cycle of decline and revival of small-scale food production or ‘crofting’ exemplifies the role of heritage practices in addressing contemporary challenges related to food production and societal connections to land.

As the region grapples with the challenges of an economy now dominated by tourism, this research highlights the need for managers and decision makers to support and regenerate cultural heritage practices that can form part of a more sustainable relationship with tourism, as well as enhancing land use and community development. The research was carried out in the UNESCO Wester Ross Biosphere which has a community led governance structure and a focus on integrating natural and cultural heritage. Effective community engagement and co-creation are emphasised as important processes to better connect cultural heritage with sustainable landscape management.