Heritage: Management, Interpretation, Identity

Throughout the world, heritage is now a major concern. It is a method by which to establish identities and attract visitors. Natural and cultural heritage is protected, conserved, managed and interpreted, by families, by cities, by nation states and at international level. This major movement has resulted in the development of heritage as a field of study, both on its own, and as a notable part of many other disciplines, such as geography, art history, archaeology, ecology and tourism management. This textbook is directed at students approaching heritage as a combined field of study for the first time. The fields of heritage under review range from the nature trail to the cathedral, the family album to the national park. Heritage is seen as a demand led activity, with interested stakeholders being academics, governments, owners, school-children, pilgrims and the media as well as the ubiquitous tourist. The text addresses the practicalities of selecting sites and objects as heritage and the characteristics particular to those selected as contrary to those overlooked.