Global Journal of Commerce & Management Perspective
Open Access

Abstract

Cultural and Heritage Tourism: A Tool for Sustainable Development

Dr.Alok Kumar

The relationship between culture, heritage, the environment and tourism is very important. It is the culture and heritage that separate the people of the world. We need to create stronger links between historic sites and monuments, indigenous people in the host community. Culture and heritage sums up a community’s beliefs and values—shared behaviour acquired as the result of living within a group and a defined geographic area. Cultural heritage linked with tourism could be an important sustainability tool. There should be increased tourism development, with full participation, management and ownership of indigenous people and without having negative impacts on indigenous peoples and other local communities and ecosystems of which they are a part. In the year 1987, Brundtland report outlined the concept of sustainability which involves “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Tourism is recognized as one of the world's largest industries and continues to expand at a rapid rate. Over 922 million people travelled in 2008 and it is estimated international tourism will increase to 1.1 billion by 2020. So, economic development cannot stop, but it must change course to fit within the planet’s ecological limits. Tourism is based on interaction, interaction prompts dialogue and dialogue builds mutual understanding and peace. Thus, we can look forward to nourishing the balance of universe through tourism and culture.