International Forum on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Transcription

1 International Forum on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems Beijing 10 June2011 Dr. Myriam Jansen-Verbeke Visiting Professor Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof.em.University Leuven-Belgium

2 HERITAGE CONSERVATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM Valorisation of Agricultural Heritage for Tourism Tangible & Intangible Resources Local-Regional-Universal Values- OUV Tourism: Tools for Development Creating Social Benefits Facilitating Cultural Economy GIAHS MJV slide 1

3 Gaps in Knowledge on Tourism & Cultural Heritage Landscapes The connection between tourism activities, socio economic context and local development in agricultural areas has not been studied systematically Framework for an integrated development missing Studies are mostly descriptive and fragmented case studies Little exchange of practical knowledge on good and bad examples Insufficient awareness about the transversal impact of tourism GIAHS Slide 2

4 Conservation of Agricultural Landscapes & Tourism: a Global Challenge China: Yunnan Marrocco : Atlas Slide 3

5 CHALLENGES Can traditional agricultural landscapes & habitats survive the 21st century? A pro-active role for Tourism? WHY does the past matters? WHOSE heritage? WHAT to be conserved? WHERE? Geo-context variables HOW? Conditions, Planning & Methods Tools & Resources MJV Slide 4

6 ASSESSING OPPORTUNITIES ANTICIPATING PROBLEMS Transforming Introducing new new agricultural activities in land scapes scapes to agricultural tourism-scapes tourism-scapes landscapes Integrated networks of actors shaping the tourism landscapes, tourist flows, creating innovative products and experiences Economic impulses in rural communities Disruption of traditional cohesion in the system Disturbed biotopes Irreversible mutation of the habitat- way of life Footprints in a vulnerable ecosystem Risks of degradation MJV Slide 5

7 Over-use Ability to cope with large numbers- How many? Marketing/ Demarketing & diversification Spatially uneven use: Visitor Management Under-use Misjudging tourist appeal and developing for expected numbers that do not arrive: Market Analysis Mis-use Assessing Carrying Capacity of Heritage Landscapes Improper, uncaring use of assets, Failure to communicate appropriate behavior Contested sites Loss of Authenticity Slide 6

8 Assessing Tourism Potential of Traditional Agricultural Landscapes 7

9 Parque de la Papa Linking agro-biodiversity with tourism Pico Azores Portugal World Heritage Landscape 8

10 Conditions for developing Tourism Potential of Heritage Landscapes -1 Institutional Capacity to plan,implement & evaluate tourism policies to develop a sustainable interaction between public & private business to link local institutions & stakeholders with global markets, international norms and laws Slide 9

11 Conditions for developing Tourism Potential of Heritage Landscapes -2 The Capacity to develop, balance & manage Human Capital & Knowledge Physical Resources Institutional structures To launch and sustain Tourism Activities Slide 10

12 THE MONITOR: an effective policy tool For coherent & transversal policies For an integrated management For a participatory & transparent To assess Limits of Acceptable Change To identify critical issues & conflicts To detect & reinforce synergies To strenghten MJV Slide 11

13 Final Reflections: Tourism a Catalyst for Dynamic Conservation of Heritage Landscapes? What are the alternatives, if any? * Heritage is a construct of the mind and the time, values do change * Visiting the past is globally a core element of cultural tourism = economic impulses! Slide 12