Step 3: The Advisory Bodies
3.5 Interactions between local people and visitors
3.5.1 Changes
Section 1.10 illustrates that communication be- tween local people and visitors can be enhanced through tourism. This process may include a cer- tain level of cultural exchange between hosts and guests. The impacts of tourism and WH status on this change are confirmed much more clearly compared to those on other kinds of changes due to the nature of tourism activities. For example, Suzaku is a non-profit organization whose mem- bers offer guided tours to domestic and foreign visitors without fees for guiding ( Suzaku, n.d.).
Suzaku covers the entire area of the City of Nara,
including the properties listed as Historic Monu- ments of Ancient Nara (cultural WHS in Japan) (Suzaku, n.d.). The key motivations of these members seem to be their attachment to Nara and enjoying interaction with visitors.
Needless to say, most local people have a certain level of hospitality by nature. At some stage, however, the hospitality of local people may have started to shift towards a sense of
‘business’. For instance, in WHS Ogimachi, many local people started tourism-related busi- nesses such as souvenir shops, cafés and visitor parking spaces after WHS listing (Saitsu, 2006). Such a phenomenon can also be con- firmed at The Trulli of Alberobello (cultural WHS in Italy) as some ‘trulli’ (historic houses unique to the Puglia region) have been con- verted to accommodation facilities or souvenir shops. These WHSs are criticized by some visi- tors as the sites look too ‘touristy’, although running such businesses can increase opportu- nities for interaction between local residents and visitors. In such cases, local people’s dwell- ings are often turned into business venues such as accommodation facilities or souvenir shops, and this may negatively affect the appearance of historic buildings. As tourism has advanced with WH status, more local people start realiz- ing the business potential of their houses and that such tourism-related enterprise might give them additional and prompt economic benefits.
In the process of such business development, local inhabitants may alter how they treat visi- tors. Stated differently, the essence of their wel- come can change from pure hospitality to business opportunity. Through the research on Old Town of Lijiang (cultural WHS in China), Zhang et al. (2017) examine host–guest inter- actions, focusing on role-shifting of a local Na- khi resident who runs a homestay business. As tourism has advanced, the person has changed his role from a host to a businessman; however, this shift has resulted in discouraging visitors to approach his house (Zhang et al., 2017).
Subsequently, his role has changed back to a host to achieve better economic benefits from tourism (Zhang et al., 2017).
3.5.2 Local people’s views
Unlike the views discussed in Sections 3.1–3.4, overall, local inhabitants’ views towards the changes in interactions and cultural exchanges
between hosts and guests since WHS designa- tion seem to be similar across different WHSs and rather positive. Of the studies that explore this topic, probably the research on WHS Gui- marães by Vareiro et al. (2013) demonstrates the most positive responses from local residents:
more than 90% of the survey participants think that tourism at the WHS promotes contacts with different cultures. Nicholas et al. (2009) exam- ine Pitons Management Area (natural WHS in Saint Lucia), focusing on local people’s perspec- tive of the WHS through a questionnaire survey with residents. The survey discloses that local inhabitants support cultural exchanges between local residents and visitors (Nicholas et al., 2009). According to Long (2012), local people
in WHS Ha Long Bay think that tourism has led to greater cultural exchanges between the two parties. In and around WHS Ogimachi and WHS Saltaire, more than 30% of local inhabitants involved in the questionnaire surveys believe that the quality of cultural exchanges and interac- tions between visitors and local people has be- come better since WHS designation (Jimura, 2007). At both WHSs, furthermore, almost no- body deemed that the quality has become worse ( Jimura, 2007). Local specialists in heritage, com- munity and/or tourism subjects at both WHSs also view that local communities enjoy better quality of cultural exchanges and interactions as the WHSs have welcomed more overseas visi- tors since WHS inscription (Jimura, 2007).
Case Study: Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama – Cultural WHS in Japan, Listed in 1995
The WHS comprises three villages, Ogimachi (Shirakawa-go) in Gifu prefecture, and Ainokura and Suganuma (Gokayama) in Toyama prefecture. These villages are located along the Sho River in mountainous areas with much snow in winter. Historically, access to these villages has been limited
Fig. 7.1. Gassho-style houses in Ogimachi. (Photo: the author)
Continued
4 Conclusion
Sociocultural impacts of WHS inscription must be investigated in the context of sociocultural back- grounds of the places where WHSs are situated.
Like economic impacts of WHS listing, its socio- cultural impact should be examined with those of tourism, because the majority of WHSs are popu- lar tourist destinations or visitor attractions.
Section 2 discusses the issues peculiar to WHSs. Of these, a split between a WHS and its surrounding areas is quite important since, ulti- mately, it can destroy the unity of local commu- nities. Due to the nature of the issue, it is likely to occur in and around cultural WHSs, which are inscribed as particular areas where local resi- dents reside. As of 2017, however, there is a lack of research that assesses local communities in a WHS and its neighbouring areas. Even if a site is inscribed as a WHS, it would be difficult to imple- ment the WH Convention and complete the WH mission if there is an emotional gap between lo- cal communities in and around the WHS. To re- gain unity, local people living in a WHS need to consider the meaning of WH status for the wider community as well as the WHS. By doing so, a WHS will be able to contribute to the further
success of the whole municipality that the WHS belongs to, a place of residence, tourist destina- tion and a home for the WHS.
The concern about heritage conservation after WHS listing is another key agenda. It is almost impossible for human beings to control the changes in natural and built environments, especially those in the former (e.g. the rise of sea level). Consequently, the integrity (and authen- ticity, if a cultural or mixed WHS) of a WHS may decline and its OUV may also deteriorate in the future. It might be an eastern or Japanese way of thinking; however, in the author’s view, even WHSs cannot be eternal in an ever-changing world. Arabian Oryx Sanctuary and Dresden Elbe Valley lost their WH status, and 54 WHSs are on the LWHD as of August 2017. Indeed, this is lamentable. Simultaneously, however, it is understandable that losing WH status or being added to the LWHD can happen for various rea- sons such as changes in local communities’ pri- orities. Section 2.3 investigates the conflicts of interests, concerns and aspirations among vari- ous WHS stakeholders. This matter can also be a cause for forfeiting WH status or being listed on the LWHD when something vital for local com- munities is prioritized over WH status.
and they have been isolated from the outside world. This factor helps the villages to conserve their historic gassho-style houses where many villagers still live. Not only the houses but also their surround- ings are valued in terms of OUV and integrity of WH. Such surroundings encompass road and canal systems, and traditional land use such as rice fields and forests. In addition, the spiritual element of these villages is also valued. ‘Yui’ is a traditional custom of mutual help among villagers and is essential for re-thatching of gassho-style houses.
WH status and tourism advanced by WHS designation have contributed to sociocultural changes in these villages, and it is prominent in Ogimachi. Concerning Ogimachi, as discussed above, a certain emotional split is confirmed between the WHS and its surrounding areas. The level of WHS conserva- tion, especially the surrounding environment, was deteriorating after WHS designation as some people prioritized economic benefits of tourism over WHS conservation. Recently, however, WHS conservation has been enhanced thanks to ‘shukei’ projects. ‘Yui’ represents feel and spirit of a local community. It declined after WHS inscription; however, the local community group for conservation has kept promoting the significance of ‘yui’ among villagers through various measures such as their newsletters. Deteriora- tion of ‘yui’ is also confirmed in Gokayama, and this negatively affects re-thatching of gassho-style houses, and the number of gassho-style houses has also decreased. In Gokayama, a cooperation sys- tem between local government, local communities and universities located outside the villages can be seen as a possible solution. This scheme invites university students to the villages and allows them to experience and support the work that is essential for conservation of the sociocultural element of local communities.
(Sources: Jimura, 2007, 2011; Kunori and Tabiraki, 2013) Case Study: Continued.
Section 3 focuses on distinctive sociocultur- al changes, which are confirmed at WHSs due to WH status and/or tourism since WHS listing, and local people’s views towards these changes.
Overall, it would be difficult to distinguish the sociocultural impacts of WH status from those of tourism. That is mainly because these two are often indivisibly united with each other and work together for local communities in and around WHSs in a positive and/or negative way. Of the sociocultural changes reviewed in Section 3, changes in interactions and cultural exchanges between local people and visitors are the ones that WH status and tourism foster in a positive manner regardless of the east and the west; and
in many cases this trend is endorsed by local residents. Unfortunately, the ties among lo- cal people can be weakened by tourism and WH status. As the site becomes popular as a tourist destination thanks to WH status, more local people may start prioritizing their benefits, especially economic ones. This phe- nomenon stems from the rise of materialism and lack of respect for local culture and so- cial rules.
At the end of this chapter, the author offers a model that explains the significant interrela- tionships among WH status, tourism and local residents’ views towards sociocultural changes in local communities (see Fig. 7.2).
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