World Heritage status as a foundation for building local futures? A case study from Vega in Central Norway

Abstract

Abstract World Heritage Sites (WHSs) are motivated by such diverse reasons as heritage celebration, alarm calls, tourism branding and marketing and place making. Irrespective of the primary motivation for their creation, WHSs are often used to develop tourism based on cultural and natural resources of international significance. Heritage conservation may or may not be in agreement with what local populations perceive as desirable development paths. We conducted a survey among the island community of Vega in Norway that received WHS status in 2004 motivated by conservation alarm, tourism marketing and place making. We examined the local population's views of the key aspects of future development and how this related to WHS status. The islanders placed high value on social and community conditions as well as heritage linked to cultural and natural resources. While a majority supported tourism based on sustainable use of heritage they also felt that WH listing should not limit development opportunities. There were differences between younger people and adults. WHS may be an effective agent of sustainable tourism development if the main goals and strategies of the WHS are clearly understood and prioritized in the local community, leave room and perhaps link to other development opportunities. 为建立当地将来而使用世界遗产状态作为基础?以挪威中部Vega为例 世界遗产地(WHS)被不同的原因,例如遗产庆祝,警钟意识,旅游市场营销和品牌宣传,和地区创造,所影响。不顾造成这些因素的主要动机的话,WHS经常被用做以具有国际重要性的文化和自然资源为基准来发展旅游。遗产保护可能或者可能不会与当地人民认为的一致来作为理想化的发展途径。我们在挪威的Vega岛屿社区中做了调查。Vega岛屿是在2004年由于保护的警钟意识,旅游市场营销和地区创造意识这样的动机而被认可为世界遗产地的。我们讨论了当地居民对将来发展主要方面和如何将这些方面联系到WHS的状态的看法。岛民们认为社会和社区情况,和遗产相关的文化和自然资源都是最具有价值的。当大部分人支持以遗产可持续性使用为本的旅游活动时,他们也感觉到世界遗产提名不应该限制发展的机会。年轻人和成年人中存在区别。如果WHS的主要目的和战略都能够清楚地被当地社区明白和优先考虑,并且留下空间和可能联系到其他的发展机会上的话,WHS可以是对可持续旅游发展的有效帮助的。 Keywords: World Heritage Sitesustainable heritage tourismsocio-economic developmentVegadesirable futurescultural heritage关键词: 世界遗产地可持续性遗产旅游社会经济发展Vega理想化的将来