A supply-side angle to understand heritage tourism sites: A value-based assessment approach

ABSTRACT

While conservation is an important research theme in heritage tourism, studies have typically focused on tourist perceptions from a demand-side perspective. Yet, there is an opportunity to better understand the supply-side of heritage tourism, including how resources are ‘marked’ as heritage sites. This study addresses this gap by applying a value-based approach from the Burra Charter, a well-recognized heritage management and conservation guideline that has been translated and adopted worldwide, to evaluate an urban heritage site: Kung Lee Sugarcane Juice, a traditional herbal tea shop situated in Hong Kong. On-site, field observations were combined with secondary research on three underlying dimensions of heritage value (i.e. historic value, architectural value, and social value) to understand the essential facets of heritage management policy-making. Overall, this research concentrates on the vital role of heritage value in achieving sustainable tourism development.

摘要

保育是遗产旅游的一个重要研究主题, 但是目前的研究通常从需求侧的角度关注游客感知。然而, 目前的遗产旅游文献尚未提供能更好认识供给侧遗产旅游的机会, 包括如何将遗产‘标记为’遗产旅游地。为了弥补这一研究空缺, 本研究透过应用《布拉宪章》中的基于价值评估法, 去评估一个城市遗产地:一家位于香港的传统凉茶店‘公利真料竹蔗水’。《布拉宪章》是全球普遍认可的文物管理及保育指引, 现已在全球各地推广及采用。该研究结合实地调查和二手资料对遗产价值的三个基本维度 (即历史价值, 建筑价值和社会价值) 进行调查, 以认识影响遗产管理决策的基本要素。总体而言, 本研究重点关注遗产价值在实现旅游可持续发展中的重要作用。

KEYWORDS:

• Architectural conservation
• heritage tourism management
• value-based approach
• heritage value
• the statement of significance

关键词:

• 建筑保育
• 遗产旅游管理
• 基于价值评估法
• 遗产价值
• 文化重要性宣言

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zuhui Liao

Zuhui Liao is Research Assistant in School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. Her research interests include heritage management, sustainable development, architectural conservation, and tourism experiences.

Vincent Wing Sun Tung

Vincent Wing Sun Tung is Associate Professor in School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. His research interests include tourism experiences, host-guest relations, and destination marketing and management.