Cultural Heritage is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation. As part of human activity, cultural heritage, produces tangible representations of value systems, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles. However, heritage is also constructed; it constitutes an interpretation of the past in the present.
Heritage tourism is defined as "traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past," and "heritage tourism can include cultural, historic and natural resources."
Cultural heritage has long contributed to attract tourists. Heritage attractions play an important role in tourism at all levels, from the global highlights of world culture to attractions that underpin local identities (Richards, 1996). In recent years, cultural heritage has been revived as an important marketing tool to attract tourists with special interests in inheritance and arts. Further, heritage tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry because there is a trend toward an increasing specialization among tourists. This trend is evident in the rise in the volume of tourists who are seeking for culture, history, archaeology and interaction with local people.
This conference seeks to explore research papers related to tourism and cultural heritage in Asia, especially the debates on the future of cultural heritage which related to tourism.
Papers are invited on topics related to the future of cultural heritage tourism in Asia, but not limited, to:
mobility and heritage tourism
representation and heritage tourism
performance and heritage tourism
authenticity, commodification, and heritage tourism
politics and heritage tourism
world heritage sites and tourism
marketing, branding and heritage tourism
image, identity and heritage tourism
cultural heritage and dark tourism
tourism, cultural heritage, and transformation
cultural heritage and wellness tourism
cultural heritage and sustainable tourism
