The use of indicators to measure the sustainability of tourism at cultural heritage sites: a critical review

ABSTRACT

A systematic search for literature on the use of indicators to measure the sustainability of tourism at cultural heritage sites identified 22 relevant publications. A critical review of these publications revealed a definite need to: (1) test new data collection methods, including those capable of generating results quickly and economically; (2) assess the reliability and validity of indicators and indices; (3) evaluate alternative procedures for weighting indicators; and (4) conduct long-term monitoring, as opposed to cross-sectional assessments, of the sustainability of tourism at cultural heritage sites. Recommendations are advanced for evaluating and enhancing the reliability and validity of indicators and indices, such as increasing the face and content validity of indicators and indices by including in them measures of governance, and placing indicators of the sustainability of tourism at cultural heritage sites, and indicators of the sustainability of nearby communities, in separate indicator sets and indices.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainable tourism
• sustainability indicators
• cultural heritage sites
• reliability
• validity
• monitoring

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel M. Spencer

Daniel M. Spencer is a Professor in the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. He specializes in the geography and sustainable management of tourism.

Emma Louise Sargeant

Emma Louise Sargeant is from the United Kingdom. She holds a B.S. in Tourism Management from the University of Surrey and a M.S. in Travel Industry Management, with a specialization in Tourism Management, from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. She has a passion for travel and responsible tourism.