WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009

Management

Chapter 1:
The Concept of ecotourism and heritage tourism
1.1 The Concept of ecotourism
1.1.1 Definitions or meaning of ecotourism

The origin of ecotourism as a concern can be traced back to the 1960s when ecologists and
environmentalists became concerned over the inappropriate use of natural resources.

The term was 1st introduced by the Mexican ecologist named Hetzer with the four identified
normative principles or pillars of ecotourism in [Link] to hetzer, ecotourism should
have: minimum environnemental impact, minimum impact on and maximum respect for
host cultures, maximum economic benefits to the host country’s grassroots, and Maximum
‘recreational’ satisfaction to participating tourists. Ecotourism is the complex relationship
between tourists and the environments and cultures (Hetzer, 1965).
Ecotourism is an environmentally responsible travel & visitation to relatively undisturbed natural
areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature ( and any accompanying cultural features both past
& present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor negative impact and provides for
beneficially active socio- economic involvement of local populations. (Hector Ceballos-
Lascurain, 1983)

Laarman and Durst (1987), in their early reference to ecotourism, defined it as a nature tourism
in which the ‘traveler is drawn to a destination because of his or her interest in one or more
features of that destination’s natural history. The visit combines education, recreation, and often
adventure.

Ziffer (1989) defined ecotourism as a form of tourism inspired primarily by the natural history of
an area, including its indigenous cultures. The eco-tourist visits relatively undeveloped areas in
the spirit of appreciation, participation and sensitivity. The eco-tourist practices a non-
consumptive use of wildlife and natural resources and contributes to the visited area through
labor or financial means aimed at directly benefiting the conservation of the site and the
economic well-being of the local residents. The visit should strengthen the eco-tourists’
appreciation and dedication to conservation issues in general, and to the specific needs of the
locale. Ecotourism also implies a managed approach by the host country or region which
commits itself to establishing and maintaining the sites with the participation of local residents,
Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 1
 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

marketing them appropriately, enforcing regulations, and using the proceeds of the enterprise to
fund the area’s land management as well as community development.

‘Travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specific objective of: studying,
admiring, enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural
manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas’ (Boo 1990)

The Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as purposeful travel to natural areas to:
Understand the culture and the natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the
integrity of the ecosystem; Producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of the
natural resources beneficial to the local people (Epler Wood et al., 1991).
Environmentally responsible and visiting to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature
(and any accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have
low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of the local
people, the world conservation union (IUCN),1996.
Martha honey (1999), it a travel to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas that strives to be
low impact and usually small scale. It helps educate the traveller, provides funds for
conservation, directly benefits the economic developments and political empowerments of the
local communities and foster respect to different cultures and for human rights.
Nature of ecotourism:

Characteristics and principles of ecotourism

Kutay (1993) argued that real ecotourism is more than travel to enjoy or appreciate nature. It also
includes minimization of environmental and cultural consequences, contribution to conservation
& communities, and environmental education, such as by the establishment of codes of conduct
for travelers as well as the various components of the tourism industry.

Honey suggested that real ecotourism has seven characteristics. It involves travel to natural
destinations, minimizes impacts, builds environmental awareness, provides direct financial
benefits for conservation, provides financial benefits & empowerment for local people, respects
local culture, and supports human rights and democratic movements.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 2

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

In general, there are five core principles that are fundamental to ecotourism. They are that
ecotourism is nature based, ecologically sustainable, environmentally educative, locally
beneficial and generates tourist satisfaction. The first 3 characteristics are considered to be
essential for a product to be considered ecotourism while the last two are viewed as being
desirable for all forms of tourism.

1. Nature based /should involve travel to natural areas

Ecotourism is based on the natural environment with a focus on its biological, physical &
cultural features. Ecotourism occurs in, and depends on, a natural setting & may include cultural
elements where they occur in a natural setting. The conservation of the natural resources is
essential to the planning, development & management of ecotourism.

2. Environmentally educative/should builds environmental awareness for tourists and the

residents

The educative characteristic of ecotourism is a key element that distinguishes it from other forms
of nature based tourism. Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment in
order to develop their knowledge, awareness & appreciation of it. By extension, ecotourism
should ideally lead to positive action for the environment by fostering enhanced conservation
awareness. Ecotourism education can influence tourist, community & industry behavior & assist
in the long term sustainability of tourist activity in natural areas. Interpretation helps tourists see
the big picture regarding environments and acknowledges the natural & cultural values of the
area visited as well as other issues such as resource management. Ecotourism should contain
education and interpretation as part of the tourist offer. Interpretation provided by ecotourism has
a critical role in contributing to the world’s environmental awareness. Eco-tourists expect high
levels of ecological information. The quality of the environment and the visibility of its flora and
fauna are essential features of their experience. They demand conservation.

3. Ecologically sustainable/ minimum impacts, maximum respect for culture and funds for
conservation

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 3

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

All tourism should be sustainable economically, socially & environmentally. Ecotourism is

ecologically sustainable tourism undertaken in a natural setting. The very incorporation of ‘eco’
in its title suggests that ecotourism should be an ecologically sustainable form of tourism. This
broadly defined travel oriented towards the natural setting is generally expected to respect &
protect the environment & culture of the host country/ region.

4. Locally beneficial in financial, culture and human rights

Local communities can become involved in ecotourism operation, & in the provision of
knowledge, services, facilities & products. These benefits should outweigh the cost of
ecotourism to the host community and the environment. Ecotourism provides alternative income
and employment for local communities. In addition to social and cultural benefits, ecotourism
can also generate income for resource conservation and management. Ecotourism can provide a
context for local incentives for conservation & protection. Ecotourism generates revenue for
management of natural areas & the creation of employment opportunities for the local
population.
5. Tourist satisfaction

Satisfaction of visitors with the ecotourism experience is essential to the longer viability of the
ecotourism industry. Indeed, this incorporates elements of the concept of the visitor experience
and the need to recognize the complexity of what constitutes the ecotourism experience in a
marketing, experiential & satisfaction context. It is also necessary to recognize the importance of
visitor safety in regard to political stability. Information provided about ecotourism opportunities
should accurately represent the opportunities offered at particular ecotourism destination.

Some further general characteristics of ecotourism have been identified by UNEP and the World
Tourism Organization as:
 involving appreciation not only of nature, but also of indigenous cultures prevailing in
natural areas, as part of the visitor experience;
 generally, but not exclusively, organized for small groups by small, specialized and
locally owned businesses (while recognizing that foreign operators also market and
operate ecotourism);

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 4

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 supporting the protection of natural areas by generating economic benefits for the
managers of natural areas; and
 Providing alternative income and employment for local communities.
Emergence of Ecotourism

According to researchers, it was only in the 1980s that ecotourism sought to find common
ground due to the expansion of global tourism, and the increasing interest in the natural
environment. The phenomenon known as ecotourism was in existence long before the
terminology began to be used within tourism studies.

The effect of global warming and other environmental degradations might have forced the
development of environmentally friendly form of tourism. Thus, ecotourism has come into
existence as counterpart/corresponding for mass tourism. It is concerned with the conservation of
environment as well as the well being of the local people. So, it has been picked up as a
lucrative/profitable marketing niche for tourism practitioners.

Mass tourism is large-scale tourism – typically associated with ‘sea, sand, sun’ resorts and
characteristics such as transnational ownership, minimal direct economic benefit to destination
communities, seasonality, and package tours.

TIES Global Ecotourism Fact Sheet released in 2006 notes that ecotourism has started to
flourish as a niche tourism sector since the 1990’s. Consequently, it has been mounting/
growing between 20% and 34% per annum. In addition, ecotourism/nature tourism was growing
globally three times faster than the tourism industry as a whole. The aforementioned explicitly
implies how lucrative the ecotourism business is.

Until recently, there has been some confusion surrounding the etymology or origin of the term
‘ecotourism’, as evident in the tremendous volume of literature on the topic. For example, Orams
(1995) and Hvenegaard (1994) write that the term can be traced back only to the late 1980s,
while others (Higgins 1996) suggest that it can be traced to the late 1970s, through the work of
Miller (1989) on eco-development. One of the consistent themes emergent in the literature
supports the fact that Ceballos-Lascuráin was the first to coin the phrase in the early 1980s.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 5

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

Ceballos-Lascuráin illustrates that his initial reference to the phrase occurred in 1983, while he
was in the process of developing pronature, an NGO in Mexico.
Recently, however, the term has been traced further back to the work of Hetzer (1965), who used
it to explain the intricate relationship between tourists and the environments and cultures in
which they interact. Hetzer identified four fundamental pillars that needed to be followed for a
more responsible form of tourism. These included: (1) minimum environmental impact; (2)
minimum impact on—and maximum respect for—host cultures; (3) maximum economic benefits
to the host country’s grassroots; and (4) maximum ‘recreational’ satisfaction to participating
tourists. The development of the concept of ecotourism grew, according to Hetzer, as a
culmination of dissatisfaction with governments’ and society’s negative approach to
development, especially from an ecological point of view. Nelson (1994) also adopts this
particular stand in illustrating that the idea of ecotourism is in fact an old one, which manifested
itself during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when researchers became concerned over
inappropriate use of natural resources. Nelson suggests that the term ‘eco-development’ was
introduced as a means by which to reduce such development.

The ecotourism concept, which was introduced in the 1960s, discussed by ecologists in the
1970s, accepted by tourism researchers in the 1980s and considered as the fastest-growing
segment of the tourism industry in the 1990s, has been considered theoretically sound but hard to
implement.
Ecotourism vs. other forms of tourism
Alternative Tourism
Alternative tourism can be defined as ‘forms of tourism that set out to be consistent with natural,
social and community values and which allow both hosts and guests to enjoy positive and
worthwhile interaction and shared experiences’. The alternative tourism concept has been used to
embrace all those tourism forms that are more sustainable than mass tourism. Therefore,
ecotourism can be assumed to be one form of alternative tourism.
Some of its features include the following:
 Small scale and developed and owned by local people.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 6

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 The attempted preservation, protection and enhancement of the quality of the resource
base which is fundamental to tourism itself.
 The fostering and active promotion of development, in relation to additional visitor
attractions and infrastructure, with roots in the specific locale and developed in ways that
complement local attributes.
 The endorsement of infrastructure, hence economic growth, when and where it improves
local conditions and not where it is destructive or exceeds the carrying capacity of the
natural environment or the limits of the social environment whereby the quality of
community life is adversely affected.
 Tourism which attempts to minimize its impact upon the environment, is ecologically
sound, and avoids the negative impacts of many large-scale tourism developments
undertaken in areas that have not previously been developed.
 An emphasis on not only ecological sustainability, but also cultural sustainability. That is,
tourism which does not damage the culture of the host community, encouraging a respect
for the cultural realities experienced by the tourists through education and organized
'encounters'.

Alternative tourists try to avoid the beaten track and visit places where nobody has been
before. Such a tourist seeks to forget civilization for a while and enjoys contact with the local
people. S/he may enjoy even without modern tourist infrastructure and travel alone or in small
groups. An alternative tourist is anticipated to be well educated and possess above average
income and tend to remain in the country for more days than a traditional tourist.

Alternative tourism is a generic term that encompasses a whole range of tourism strategies (e.g.
‘appropriate’, ‘eco-’, ‘soft’, ‘responsible’, ‘people to people’, ‘controlled’, ‘small-scale’,
‘cottage’, and ‘green’ tourism), all of which purport/maintain to offer a more benign/kindly
alternative to conventional mass tourism in certain types of destinations.

Sustainable tourism
According to the WTO "sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present generation,
tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.” It is

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 7

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

expected to lead to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and
aesthetic needs are fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes,
biological diversity, and life support systems.

Community based Tourism

More recently, community based tourism has been recognized as another form of tourism.
"Community based tourism occurs when decisions about tourism activity and development are
driven by the host community. It usually involves some form of cultural exchange where tourists
meet with local communities and witness aspects of their lifestyle.

Responsible Tourism
Responsible tourism refers to the type of tourism where tourism organizations take care of
tourist destinations while providing visitor satisfaction. As a result, the resources and attractions
—both natural and cultural—are not spoiled for local people or future visitors. Further, it denotes
care for the environment and cultural resources, and opportunity for locals in terms of
employment or other kinds of involvement, sufficient information regarding local resources for
visitors, and implementation of the policy of corporate social responsibility. Responsible tourism
is travel that respects the laws and customs of local people and is not harmful to the environment.
It refers to tourism that maximizes the benefits to local communities, minimizes negative social
or environmental impacts, and helps local people conserve fragile cultures and habitats or
species.
Pro-Poor Tourism
Pro-poor tourism is another form of tourism where the benefits to the poor are greater than the
costs that tourism entails to them. This approach emphasizes the need to extend tourism
opportunities for people living on less than US$ 1 per day. This category of people should be
involved in tourism for realizing poverty reduction through tourism. By definition, it is obvious
that not all community based tourism is pro-poor tourism. Pro-poor tourism strategies emphasize
on unlocking opportunities for the poor within tourism, rather than expanding the overall size of
the tourism business.

Nature Based Tourism

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 8

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

Nature based tourism is type of tourism that focused principally on natural resources such as
relatively undisturbed parks and natural areas, wetlands, wildlife reserves, and other areas of
protected flora, fauna, and habitats.
Nature based tourism refers to travel to participate in outdoor activities utilizing the natural
resources of an area. Tourism that features ‘nature’ is generally termed environmental or ‘nature
based tourism’; a broad term that includes a range of tourism experiences including adventure
tourism, ecotourism, and aspects of cultural and rural tourism. Aboriginal/indigenous culture is
included as part of nature based tourism because of its inextricable link with the natural
environment. Nature based tourism is distinguished from other tourism forms by its natural
area setting. Ecotourism may include elements of other nature based tourism types such as
adventure tourism in which the focus is on the activity, for example, white water rafting or scuba
diving. However ecotourism is also characterized by a number of other features, in particular: its
conservation ethos/philosophy; its environmental education and interpretation elements; its
emphasis on ecological sustainability and minimizing potential impacts; and ensuring that those
natural areas used for ecotourism remain in a conserved natural state for future generations to
enjoy.

Community based ecotourism

In general, Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) is tourism that is managed by the community
for the tourist destinations. With general tourism, tourist visits are often marketed and organized
by private travel companies and government protected areas and the bulk of the profits go to the
private companies and government enterprises. In contrast, CBET is managed and run by the
community itself, management decisions are made by local people and profits directly go to the
community.
Ecotourism is a frequently debated term. Sometimes it is used simply to identify a form of
tourism where the motivation of visitors and the sales pitch to them centers on the observation of
nature. Increasingly, this general sector of the market is called ‘nature tourism’. True
‘ecotourism’, however, requires a proactive approach that seeks to mitigate/alleviate the
negative and enhance the positive impacts of nature tourism. The International Ecotourism

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 9

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

Society defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment
and sustains the well-being of local people.
This definition not only implies that there should be a recognition of, and positive support for,
the conservation of natural resources, both by suppliers and consumers, but also that there is a
necessary social dimension to ecotourism.
The term ‘community-based ecotourism’ takes this social dimension a stage further. This is a
form of ecotourism where the local community has substantial control over, and involvement in,
its development and management, and a major proportion of the benefits remain within the
community.
Types of Ecotourism

In planning for & managing ecotourism, it is important to be aware of a number of different

types of ecotourism. They may vary considerably in regard to a range of factors including:

 The types of natural settings they require;

 The extent of direct contact & involvement in the natural environment

 The group sizes involved

 The use & extent of personal interaction with tour guides

 The reliance on mechanized means of transport & supporting infrastructure.

 The types of visitor satisfaction & experience realized.

Here is three broad types of ecotourism have been identified. They include self reliant
ecotourism, small group ecotourism and popular ecotourism.

1. Self-reliant Ecotourism

It involves individuals/ small groups of generally 10 or less people who utilize non motorized
forms of transport/ e.g. whaling or canoeing/ to visit relatively remote & highly used natural
areas. Visitors are generally self-reliant: have few demands for supporting services and
infrastructure. There is a very special & unusual “first hand” experience that often requires a

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 10

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

high degree of challenge and some knowledge of outdoor survival skills. Examples include
trekking, rafting and kayaking.

2. Small group Ecotourism

This type of ecotourism involves individuals or relatively small group (approximately 15 or less)
who utilized motorized forms of transport (e.g. two or small boat) to visit areas of special interest
which are generally” off the beaten track”. This type of ecotourism operation may involve
moderately high levels of challenge & self reliance but in generally suitable for participants form
a wide variety of age groups who don’t necessarily require any special outdoor skills.

3. Popular Ecotourism

This type of ecotourism involves the transport of large numbers of visitors to through or across a
country’s best know & most popular natural attractions. It relies on high capacity mechanized
forms of transport such as buses or large boats. There are low requirements for self reliance &
the degree of challenge is generally low. There may be substantial requirements for supporting in
restructure and services 9e.g visitor centers, food & drink outlets, boardwalks and toilettes). This
style of ecotourism is available to all visitors irrespective of age or physical capability.

Typologies of eco-tourists

 Based on group dynamics:

 Do-it-yourself eco tourists: this group comprise the largest % of all eco tourists. These
individuals stay in a variety of different types of accommodations. Their experience is
marked by a high degree of flexibility.
 Eco tourists on tours. This group expects a high degree of organisation within their
tour, and travel to exotic destinations.
 School groups or scientific groups : This group often become involved in scientific
research of an organisation or individual, often stay in the same region for extensive
periods of time, and are willing to tolerate harsher site conditions than other eco tourists
(Kusler,1991)
 Based on dedication, time, experience, destination, means of travel:

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 11

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 Hard-core nature tourists: scientific researchers or members of tours specifically

designed for education, removal of litter, or to take part in environmental or cultural
projects, such as wildlife monitoring
 Dedicated nature tourists: people who take trips specifically to see protected areas
and who want to understand local natural and cultural history.
 Mainstream nature tourists: people who visit the Amazon, the Rwandan gorilla
park, or other destinations primarily to take an unusual trip; and
 Casual nature tourists: People who experience nature incidentally as part of a
broader trip. It can be “hard-class” and “soft-class” travel. Lindberg , (1991
 A hard-class experience that is physically difficult with an element of
danger. For example, it may require;
-walking miles into the back country,
-climbing a technically difficult mountain,
-Sleeping in rudimentary shelters.
 A soft-class experience means lower risk and more luxurious
accommodations. For example,
 A tented safari may involve physically challenging conditions
while offering amenities such as gourmet meals and comfortable
transport.
Elements of ecotourism:
 ECOLOGY
The word is derived from the Greek word oikos, meaning ‘home’. Ecology might therefore be
thought of as the study of the ‘home life’ of living organisms. The word ‘ecology’ was first used
by Ernest Haeckel in 1869. Ernst Haeckel in 1869: the total relations of the animal to both its
organic and it’s in organic environment. Paraphrasing Haeckel we can describe ecology as the
scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Charles J. Krebs (2001): Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions that determine the
distribution (where organisms are found) and abundance (how many occur there) of organisms.
 ENVIRONMENT

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 12

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

External conditions /surroundings especially those in which people live or work. It is the
surrounding of any organism including the physical world and other organisms. Anything
outside an organism in which the organism lives.
1.2. Definition or meaning of heritage
1.2.1. Meaning, and nature of heritage tourism

While looking for the definitions of the word ‘Heritage’ in any defining references, usually we
come across with a number of terms and phrases like, “…something that comes or belongs to …
received in will of deceased ancestor or bequeathed… inherited from the past by birth…legal
descent or succession…” The conventions of international organizations, like UNESCO’s
Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972, Article 4),
also contains such definitions like, “…the duty of ensuring the … presentation and transmission
to future generations of cultural and natural heritage…” Nature (Vol.35. No.4, October-
December, 1999: 34-36) also define heritage resources as they are consisting of natural
resources, works of art, architecture, traditions and spiritual wealth which have permanent
values. Thus, until recently, the word heritage has been commonly used only to describe as an
inheritance received in the will of deceased ancestors or bequeathed when dead to descendants.

Generally speaking the definition of heritage can be summarized in the following manner.

Heritage is what we have inherited from our past; it can be in art form, music, dance, history
monument, idea and so on.

Heritage means something that has been inherited from the past and which can be passed on to
future generation. It is all of the practices we have handed down traditionally. It has the notion of
inheritance and intergeneration exchange or relationship.

The tourism industry has been quick to label different type of experiences, reflecting the fact that
there are different types of tourists, and hence different type of tourism.

Heritage tourism is traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that represent the
stories and people of the past and the present. In other words heritage tourism is travel directed
towards experiencing the heritage of the city, region, state, or country. Heritage tourism enables
the tourists to learn about, and be surrounded by, local customs, traditions, history and culture.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 13

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

1.2.2 Heritage and Historical Reality

People have long used remnant of ancient and more modern past as recreational resource in
urban and rural context. Even in ancient days heritage tourism exists. Ancient records to today’s
world inhabitants tell of traders, sailors and adventurers travelling to see the great pyramid and
the Nile. The ancient explorers were one early form of tourists. Even those who made grand
tour of Europe during the Middle age moved between ancient cities of culture to see grand
buildings, cathedrals and artistic works. The Grand Tour, popular with the upper class –elite of
Europe during 16th and 17th as educational and culturally refining experience, includes visits to
such historic cities as Paris, Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples. The length of
time spent the tour varied from as long as 40 months in the mid 16th C to only four Months in
the Mid 19th C. The people who engaged in this travel phenomenon also varied from time to
time. The early travelers were English often land lords aristocracy, but by the late 18th C the
Grand Tour was popular among lawyers, merchants, physicians and bankers. By the mid 18th C,
the tour was popular among the early American Tourists. Today, many cities along the grand
tour routes remain popular site of cultural and heritage tourism. Individual heritage sites such as
Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s
birth place at Stratford-up on Avon in England, provide motivation to visit the country in the first

1.2.3 Classification of Heritage Resource

According to the operational guidelines for the implementation of the world heritage convention,
world heritage resources can be classified in to the following categories:

I. Cultural Heritage resources

II. Natural Heritage resources

III. Mixed heritage resources

Cultural Heritage resources:

Cultural heritage properties are results of human past activities. They are

 The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of the society,

 They are believed to have been inherited from past generation,

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 14

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 They are safeguarded and preserved in the present and bestowed for the future benefit.

It includes the following types of heritages:

Monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting elements or

structure of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combination of features
which have outstanding universal values from the point of view of history, art or science.

Group of buildings: group of separated or connected buildings because of their architecture,

their homogeneity or their places in the land escape which have outstanding universal values
from the point of view of history, art or science.

Sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man and areas including
archaeological sites which have outstanding universal values from the historical, aesthetical,
archaeological or anthropological point of view.

Cultural heritage potentials of Ethiopia are consisting of several productions of architectural and
artistic manifestations. Proclamation No. 209/2000 categorizes architectural and artistic products
and other man made religious and secular objects and traditions as cultural heritage possessions.

The spectacular splendors of aksumite stelaes, rock hewn churches of lalibela, Gondarian castles,
the historic building of harar, megalithic monuments of tiya, the pre historic archeological site of
melka kunture, beautiful religious and secular buildings with the various architectural styles,
spiritual art, colorful religious festibal celebrations and impressive paintings and writings are
only a few portions of the cultural assets of Ethiopia.

Cultural heritage resources could be in the following forms like tangible and intangible.

Tangible heritage resources:

Tangible or physical heritage properties are cultural remains or antiquities that can be "seen or
felt”. Tangible cultural heritage include buildings, monuments, historic places, artifacts and other
remains of the same kind that are considered worthy of preservation for the future. These include
objects significant to the archaeology, architecture, and works of art, paintings, science or
technology of a specific culture.

Tangible heritage resources can be movable or immovable heritage resources.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 15

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

Movable heritage resources: comprises material cultures that can be moved from place to place
without losing their individual character or without being substantially damaged. The movable
cultural materials can be also sub-divided in to several classes on the bases of the material they
are made from, their age (manufacturing period) and their functions.

Immovable heritage resources: those materials which are attached to the ground with a
foundation that can be moved from place to place by dismantling them. Buildings, monuments,
memorial and burial places, historical or pre-historical archaeological sites are examples of
immovable heritage resources. Therefore, the historical palaces and castles, stales, church and
mosque buildings, or any other places of worship, tombs, old and historic treasuries and other
buildings can be categorized as immovable assets of Ethiopia.

Intangible Heritages /immaterial heritages /Living Heritages

A broad definition of cultural heritage includes intangible aspects of a particular culture,

safeguarded by the social customs during a specific period in history. Intangible heritage
resources, also known as living heritage resources are indispensable component of cultural
heritage, and consists of the spiritual wealth, social customs, practices, representations,
expressions, knowledge, skills, oral traditions and other traditional performances that are not
physical (“can’t be touched”). It consists of the ways and means of behavior in a society and the
often formal rule for operating in a particular cultural environment. These include social values,
customs, traditions, practices and aesthetic and spiritual beliefs, artistic expression, language and
other aspects of human activity.

Proclamation No 209/2000 defines intangible heritage resources as spiritual wealth, social

customs, practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, literature, skills, local oral traditions
and other traditional performances-(music, dance and theatre) that “cannot be seen or felt.”
Intangible heritage include ceremonies of holidays, folk art, tales, proverbs, popular poetry,
songs and other cultural values and traditions of the same kind.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 16

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

The impressive celebrations of annual religious holydays that typify the Ethiopian calendar and
usually attended by numerous domestic and international tourists are among the intangible
cultural aspects and are integral parts of these tour attractions.

Some of the prominent and multitude intangible heritages which have been hosted by Ethiopian
orthodox church every year are:

 The annual holidays of Enkutataish /Ethiopian New Year (September11),

 Meskel /The finding of the True cross (September 27),

 Debra Kerbe Gishen Mariam (october1), zuquala Abbo (October 15),

 Aksum Tsion (November 30)

 Kullubi Gabrael (December 28 and July 26),

 Lalibela/ Ethiopian Christmas (January 7) and

 Timket or the Epiphany (January 19) are few examples.

Although it is colorfully celebrated throughout the country, Timket is highly regarded in Gondar.
The bathing palace of Fasiledes is still dedicated to this colorful ceremony. As part his efforts in
restoring the Orthodox faith, Emperor Fasiledes constructed this neatly walled depression at a
short distance out of the palace complex to rebaptize those who were converted into Catholicism
by his father, Emperor Suseneyos. It consists of a vast rectangular depression, surrounded by a
wall. It is still filled with water each year by a canal from the River Keha for the colorful Timket
celebration. Besides the baptizing of Jesus, the celebration of Timket in Gondar commemorates,
therefore, the rebaptizing of thousands of people when converted from Catholicism to the
Orthodox faith. So, even though Gondar can be visited at any time of the year, the city is a
wonderful place to witness the colorful ceremonies of the Timket festival. In Addis Ababa, Jan
Meda is the ideal place to witness the colorful celebration of Timket.

There are also a number of Islamic celebrations such as Ashura, Shawwal Eid( observed by the
Aderis, 5 or sometimes 6 days after Ramadan) and the ceremony of Shick Hussen at Dire Sheik
Hussen (Sofomor cave) in Bale Dire, Eid Al-Adeha and Romadan/arefa are few examples.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 17

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

Irecha: a ritual celebration that takes place continuously for about twenty days (sept26-october
15), under a large sycamore tree, at the shore of lake Hora Arsedi, in the town of Debre-zeit, is
another colorful ceremony.

Gada System: the traditional institutions and practices of the Oromo people that directed the
social and political life of the society.

Fiche: is a New Year celebration for two weeks every year. it will be clearly known through the
ayantos (traditional astrologists). The next day of fiche is called "chambala" On this day; the
family head wears traditional custom and shall feed the cattle because the children will go to
each house by saying "ayde chambala".

 Natural Heritage

According to the above references natural heritage refers to landscapes in which pristine
wildness (unlogged forests, undimmed rivers, and unframed mountains). In other words, they
are:

 Results of nature itself,

 Peculiar sceneries, such as the outstanding physical, biological, geographical features,

 Habitats of threatened areas of value on scientific or aesthetic grounds.

 Vegetations, landscapes, water bodies, gorges and wild lives can be mentioned as few
examples.

Natural features: consist of physical biological formations or group of such formations which
have outstanding universal values from the aesthetic or scientific point of view, geological and
physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute the habitat of
threatened species of animal and plants of outstanding universal values from point of view of
science and conservation.

Natural sites: those natural sites precisely delineated areas which have outstanding universal
values from point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty.

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 18

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 Mixed heritage resources

Properties shall be considered as mixed cultural and natural heritage, if they satisfy a part or the
whole of the definitions of both cultural and natural heritage.

Cultural landscapes are cultural properties and represent the” combined works of nature and of
humans”. They are illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under
the influence of the physical constraints and /or opportunities presented by their natural
environment and of successive social, economic, and cultural forces, both external and internal.

The above detail concepts of heritage can be summarized in the following manners.

Heritage

N. Heritage Cu. Heritage

Mixed Heritage

Tangible Intangible

Movable Immovable

The table describes the deferent categories of heritage.

Cultural heritages Natural heritages

Tangible heritage Intangible heritage Tangible & immovable

movable immovable -music -natural & maritime parks

-museum collections -architectural works -dance of ecology

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 19

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

-library materials -monuments -literature -geological and physical

-archaeological site -theatre formations
-archives
-historic centers -local traditions
-landscapes of outstanding
-crafts -group of buildings -know-how
natural beauty
-etc -cultural [Link] -crafts-skills
-historical parks & -interests -etc
gardens -religious ceremony
-botanical gardens
-etc
-industrial archaeology
-etc

1.2.4. Value and significance of heritages

Economic Significance

Heritage is preserved because of the value it offers in terms of expenditures of visitors to sites.
Tourism is big business, illustrated by private sector sponsorship as a means to generate income
for the site s, but sponsorship can also be used to target an audience that is socially responsible
and has green tendencies. The economic significance of heritage may also be demonstrated in the
development the user-pays approaches to entry of many heritage sites as heritage is increasingly
facing a situation of having to pay its own way.

Example: Axum is one of heritage cities of Ethiopia in which it is known by majority of tourists
visiting the country. From those visitors, there is economic contribution to the society of the
town when they engaged in different small scale industries like souvenir shop; Hotels and other
tourism industries found in the town like Guides Association are benefited from the tourists
visiting the heritage. The sum of all heritages including the town of Axum has contribution to the
overall Region’s and Country’s economic development. This is simply the economic significance
of heritage resources.

Social Significance

This refers to the personal and collective identity that people and society have with ‘their’
heritage. A social conscience will often be the driving impetus to consider preservation in the
first instance. Heritage can also help determine a sense of place; creating a situation where

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 20

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

people can use heritage to gain attachment to an area, and maintain a sense of place that remains
virtually unchanged. As far as heritage is the identity of the given society, it has great
significance in expressing what the society are that can lead them to be proud of their heritage, to
feel the sense of ownership and responsibilities for any damages that may lead the heritage to
lose its originality.

Example: Gada system is heritage of Oromo which can easily express the traditional ruling
system of the people in which power is transferred peace fully at end of each eight years which is
assumed to be the base or origin of democracy even though the world knows as it is from Greek.

Political Significance

The meaning and symbolism of heritage may serve as political ends. Heritage by its definition is
political, in terms of reinforcing what is conserved, how heritage is told, and placing the wishes
of private owners of heritage in to conflict with government or public interests.

Example: Battle of Adwa is heritage and can be used for political purpose in initiating or
encouraging the youngsters to struggle against poverty that is the current enemy of the country.

Scientific Significance

Many National Parks and protected areas may contain gene pools and ecosystem that will be
useful to medicine and other scientific investigations. They also provide habitats for rare and
endemic or endangered species.

Example; Bale and Semien Mountain National Park are currently serving as home of different
endangered species of birds and animals like Chilada Baboon, Walia Ibex, Red fox and others.
The park can also help by being research center for those who need different species of plants
and animals for further studies.

Generally, as far as today’s world is based on yesterday, heritage resources either natural or
historical have great significance for the modern scientific development by providing
information of great value in many areas of research. This is commonly practiced in natural
parks and archeological sites because they are representatives of certain natural and cultural
environments.

Read take some notes with respect to the following values of heritage

 Evidential values
 Historical values
 Aesthetical values
 Commemorative values

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 21

 WU Department of Tourism and Hotel 2009
Management

 Spiritual values

Eco-tourism and Heritage conservation management Page 22