Perspectives on Heritage Tourism - Seameo-SPAFA

<strong>Perspectives</strong> on Heritage Tourism
<strong>Perspectives</strong> on Heritage Tourism
As heritage tourism professionals and managers, it is thus worth
asking ourselves how tourism can be used as a vehicle for heritage
preservation. Moreover, how do we use heritage tourism as a
learning material about the culture of others, thereby also
facilitating inter-cultural dialogue for peace? How do we go
beyond money-making in heritage tourism, and also account for its
broader function of instilling pride in our history?
SEAMEO-SPAFA’s motivation in organising the symposium was to
seek answers to those questions. The gathering aimed at reviving
SPAFA’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive heritage tourism.
This symposium was thus used as a platform for dialogue and the
exchange of ideas, with focus on the following objectives:
1. Examine various models of collaboration undertaken in heritage
tourism
2. Examine each country’s current development in the tourism
industry
3. Find ways to bridge the gap between tourism and heritage
management needs
4. Consider and discuss how corporate responsibility can be
promoted further
5. Provide a platform for the future development and improvement
of university courses that need to adopt and incorporate a
multi-disciplinary approach within heritage tourism
SEAMEO-SPAFA strived to make the event truly representative of
the various stakeholders who are part of the mosaic of actors in
heritage tourism in the region and beyond. Joining the symposium
were representatives from policy-making government agencies,
heritage management authorities, the academe, non-government
organisations, community heritage groups, and industry organisations
such as tourism operators and associations.
The pioneer of animated cartoon films, Walt Disney, said that:
“Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we
live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how
freely we exchange ideas and feelings.” The diversity of the
symposium’s participants was probably one of its strengths as
ultimately they were supposed to talk to each other, and bring
home with them the lessons and insights they gained from their
counterparts.
The symposium was graced by esteemed speakers from various
Southeast Asian countries as well as two speakers from India.
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