Managing Visitor Attractions: The Role of Heritage in UK Tourism

This report explores the significant role of heritage sites in attracting tourists to the UK, with a specific focus on the Tower of London as a key heritage landmark. It discusses how these sites contribute to the economy and cultural understanding, highlighting the importance of preserving them for future generations. The report also addresses issues faced by heritage sites like the Tower of London, including environmental factors and the need for sustainable management practices. It emphasizes the importance of heritage tourism as a driver for economic and tourism development, while also calling for the protection and preservation of these valuable cultural resources. Desklib provides access to similar assignments and study tools for students.

THE MANAGEMENT OF VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................3
Role of heritage in attracting tourists to UK................................................................................3
Contribution of Tower of London to heritage of England...........................................................5
Issues faced by London Tower....................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Heritage sites are known as the landmark regions which have been given legal protection
by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organisation) due to their
cultural, historical, scientific or other significance. These sites are considered to have great value
in humanity as well as history (Dans and González, 2019). Thus they are intended for
conservation of prosperity as well as for signifying the accomplishment of humanity. These
heritage sites have also played an important role in tourism activities. This report will discuss he
importance of heritage sites in attracting both domestic as well as international tourists. It will
also discuss the contribution of one of the most prominent heritage site of England which is
‘Tower of London’.
DISCUSSION
Role of heritage in attracting tourists to UK
World heritage is defined as the designation for sites or places which holds outstanding
values to humanity so that they can be preserved and future generations can also acknowledge
and appreciate their values (Canale and et.al., 2019) . Heritage sites are very popular and
attractive destinations for tourists. These sites are not only cherished and appreciated by the local
citizens but people from all around the world also consider them as important tourist destination
to know the culture and history of any nation. There are many tourist destinations which have
cultural heritage and historical resources. Their preservation is known as most successful and
important form of sustainable tourism (Lin and Liu, 2018). Heritage sites have vital historical
resources and thus many local people also used to explore such places for education and learning
purpose along with creating awareness among future generations. The research purpose of
heritage sites and stories attracts international tourists to understand the culture, beliefs and
history of destination. Heritage tourism is considered as successful aspect of experiencing the
historical event.
Thus from educating the young generation to attracting international community these
sites plays an important role. Heritage tourism offer cultural as well as natural experience to
tourist. There are considerable numbers of tourists who desire to explore the original destination
which is often destroyed or hidden in name of development. The heritage sites are preserved and
developed in their original form so as to protect their historical prevalence (Scerri, Edwards and
Foley, 2019). This is the reason that many tourists from international communities are attracted
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to a destination only because of heritage sites. Heritage tourism has positive impact on society
and economy as it establish and reinforce the identity of local culture and people. Such type of
tourism also builds understanding among people and thus facilitates harmony so that tourism can
be renewed (Keyvanfar and et.al., 2018). In UK there are various heritage site which gives
valuable insight of Great British history and royal traditions and culture such as museums, Tower
of London, Bridges and many more sites. Such heritage attracts millions of tourists to UK and
thus contributes in social economical development of the region. The travellers are encouraged
to appreciate and understand the diverse cultures and royal British culture. At the same time
along with grabbing the attention of international tourists heritage sites also create a sense of
pride in host community regarding their tradition and history (Dans and González, 2019. Thus
communities are motivated to conserve and protect the manifestations related to site and
associated culture. Heritage tourism must be encouraged as key element of sustainable tourism.
For host communities the increasing heritage tourism also provides means of increasing tourism
activities and thus promoting sustainable tourism.
In UK cultural and heritage tourism is growing rapidly as many international tourists not
only desire to explore the developed cities but also to glorified UK history and royal artefacts
and traditions which are still part of these sites. Heritage tourism is able to attract potentially
large number of tourists to historic attractions and buildings such as national parks, museums and
art galleries, ecological or ethnic heritage sites as well as musical plays or artefacts (Seyfi,
Michael Hall and Fagnoni, 2019). As compare to the other adventure or conventional holiday
trips visit to heritage locations are more exiting and memorable because they gave tourist a
chance to learn the culture and social life of tourist destinations. The learning focus associated
with the heritage site is one of the reasons that UK heritage sites are successful in attracting
international tourists as well as local communities who aims at doing a greater in depth research
in the subject.
Heritage tourists often have higher extension on sites as compare to other type of tourists
because with heritage activities they want to give their complete time (Gholitabar, Alipour and
Costa, 2018). Thus their longer stay also proves to be more contributing factor in the local
economy of UK. Heritage destinations are important local and national resources thus their
preservation is necessary for protecting the historical and cultural aspect of the nation. The
promotion of such heritage sites gives an inspiration to visitors to visit the sites which are not
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only a means of recreational activities but can also give valuable insight to the local communities
(Richards, 2018). Visitors consider such tourism as great way to explore any society and to
understand its cultural, religious and social beliefs. Thus heritage sites are considered as of great
importance by not only holiday seeking people but also for the international community’s of
historians, archaeologists as well and researchers (Park, Choi and Lee, 2019). Such communities
are encouraged to visit the heritage locations as well as to make additional efforts to develop and
preserve such sites. For instance London tower and various museums of UK are great
representation of architecture and royal history.
However people from all over the world are keen to know the royal practices and culture.
As a result the preservation of such sites has been an important step in development of UK
tourism industry. Heritage tourism contributes greatly to UK tourism. In 2015 around 192
million people visited to heritage sites of UK which made 11.6% of all the tourists arriving in
UK (The impact of heritage tourism for the uk economy, 2016). Along with the high number,
heritage visitors also contribute high value. Heritage motivated tourists are mostly international
tourists. Also the domestic day tourists in UK are also likely to visit such naturally protected
heritage destinations. Heritage tourists also used to allocate their budgets across various sectors
such as on restaurants, accommodation services as well as retail and transport. The heritage sites
are now a day’s developed and upgraded with modern technologies so that along with heritage
and cultural insight they can also add more value to the tourist experience. UK has variety of
heritage types so that visitors not only get one or two sites instead they can get plenty of
destinations all over UK to make their visit highly memorable(Seraphin and et.al., 2018).
Contribution of Tower of London to heritage of England
London tower is one of the most iconic heritage structures of England which is also listed
in UNESCO heritage sites. This white tower was built by William the Conqueror as symbol of
Norman power which. This tower on River Thames, also act as gateway to capital and fortress.
Among several sites this structure is one of the examples of 11 century palace which is still
present in Europe (Mariani and Guizzardi, 2020). As there have remained only limited royal
buildings this heritage site has become symbol of royalty and thus it has great contribution in
heritage of England. The landmark sitting of London tower has great cultural quality. Its
landmark sitting is signified for protection of London city. It is also known as to be demarcation
point between monarchical power and developing London city. The cultural site is also an
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outstanding heritage example in England which shows creative Norman military architecture. To
add to heritage of England, London tower also has good association with the State institutions.
Its association is maintained through documentary records, artefacts, traditions and interpretative
material (Huete Alcocer and López Ruiz, 2020). The design, material and form of tower are
legible and intact as it was at time of inscription. Though it is not used as fortress but its fabric
depicts the techniques glorifying the heritage of England. Its heritage importance is also reflected
by its historic relationship with England and London city as well as its strategic sitting but is
vulnerable to development proposals which neglect its setting and context (Kim, Stepchenkova
and Babalou, 2018).
Issues faced by London Tower
London Tower faces multiple issues from environmental factors. In the history people of
England heritage influences multiple issues and challenging. Idea of this term makes more clarity
and consistency within consideration of which risk factors badly affects on London tower
effectiveness. From the continues changes in environmental factors like higher rain, earthquake
and many more climate issues influence issues by London Tower. Also continues changes and
people highly engage to visit tower so they not consider maintaining effectiveness and
sustainability within multiple people not manage cleanliness and they develop pollution which
also affects on cleanliness and many more aspects which useful aspects for Towers
sustainability. From the research and identification of multiple factors it’s been evaluated that
continues variation environmental aspects and people attraction towards with the visit on this
place affects London Tower effectiveness because environmental aspects is unwanted by from
the pollution it get affected which climate get badly change and develop higher variation. It also
get affected from the war between two areas and that time people provide harm to this Tower.
From the research or identification of multiple aspects it been identified that near area
construction and government not highly concern to maintain and renovate essential needs of
Tower effectiveness this factors also badly affects and influence better quality and constancy of
Tower. It evaluated that London Tower has power and prepared by very effective material so its
not highly affects but the major things is government has duty that they continuously manage
sustainability and develop renovation fir long term benefits and from the various approaches
involvement within and nearby London Tower attracts audience attraction and they feel safe as
well. London Tower is one of the oldest historic place in London and audience get highly attract
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with this. Historic place cleanliness mainly affects from visitors but the effectiveness and
attraction is only raise and develops from visitors so from this activities its been determined that
historic place get affected from various aspects.
From the research and identification its been determined that having appropriate and London
Towner is tallest building which stand on specific stand which developed by high quality raw
material but from war and multiple environmental crises influence raise and tread on walls which
essential term to consider by individual who mainly concern to develop higher effectives and
decision-making for long term sustainability also from the evaluation and identification of
historic place history makes understating of quality and consistency for long term (Kaplan and
Davis, 2020). Having appropriate raw material develop power in London Tower and it makes
higher consistency with application of essential factors. Heritage sites protection requires new
decision-making and protection with addition of safety regulation because historical place is
sustainability is source of income as well. Idea of this term makes clarity to individual that why
its require to add most appropriate and effective approach for more risk control and challenges
reduce via uses of effective approaches. From the identification of historic place its determine
that historical place face multiple risks from various reasons but the government has power to
make efficiency
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above discussion that heritage tourism has been emerging as
one of the important drivers of economic and tourism development. Along with the development
aspect it is also required that heritage sites must be protected and conserved to maintain their
cultural and historical significance so that coming generations can also cherish its role. It can
also be concluded that heritage sites are playing crucial role in attracting variety of tourists. It
can also be concluded that with heritage tourism these sites can be conserved or protected from
risk of trespassing or threat from administrative negligence.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Canale, R.R. and et.al., 2019. UNESCO World Heritage sites and tourism attractiveness: The
case of Italian provinces. Land Use Policy. 85. pp.114-120.
Dans, E.P. and González, P.A., 2019. Sustainable tourism and social value at World Heritage
Sites: Towards a conservation plan for Altamira, Spain. Annals of Tourism
Research. 74. pp.68-80.
Gholitabar, S., Alipour, H. and Costa, C.M.M.D., 2018. An empirical investigation of
architectural heritage management implications for tourism: The case of
Portugal. Sustainability. 10(1). p.93.
Huete Alcocer, N. and López Ruiz, V.R., 2020. The role of destination image in tourist
satisfaction: the case of a heritage site. Economic research-Ekonomska
istraživanja. 33(1). pp.0-0.
Keyvanfar, A. and et.al., 2018. A Sustainable historic waterfront revitalization decision support
tool for attracting tourists. Sustainability. 10(2).p.215.
Kim, H., Stepchenkova, S. and Babalou, V., 2018. Branding destination co-creatively: A case
study of tourists' involvement in the naming of a local attraction. Tourism
management perspectives. 28. pp.189-200.
Lin, Y.C. and Liu, Y.C., 2018. Deconstructing the internal structure of perceived authenticity for
heritage tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 26(12). pp.2134-2152.
Mariani, M.M. and Guizzardi, A., 2020. Does designation as a UNESCO world heritage site
influence tourist evaluation of a local destination?. Journal of travel research. 59(1).
pp.22-36.
Park, E., Choi, B.K. and Lee, T.J., 2019. The role and dimensions of authenticity in heritage
tourism. Tourism Management. 74. pp.99-109.
Richards, G., 2018. Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends. Journal of
Hospitality and Tourism Management. 36.pp.12-21.
Scerri, M., Edwards, D. and Foley, C., 2019. Design, architecture and the value to
tourism. Tourism Economics. 25(5). pp.695-710.
Seraphin, H. and et.al., 2018. Heritage in tourism organisations’ branding strategy: The case of a
post-colonial, post-conflict and post-disaster destination. International Journal of
Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research.
Seyfi, S., Michael Hall, C. and Fagnoni, E., 2019. Managing world heritage site stakeholders: A
grounded theory paradigm model approach. Journal of Heritage
Tourism.14(4).pp.308-324.
Kaplan, D. and Davis, S., 2020. The Pandemic-Resilient Office Tower. CTBUH Journal. (4).
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The impact of heritage tourism for the uk economy, 2016. [Online]. Accessed through
<https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/research/20160927_-
_the_impact_of_heritage_tourism_on_the_uk_economy_-_final_repo.pdf>
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