The use of cultural heritage in tourism: a proposal for theoretical framework.

The use of elements of heritage in tourism has been a long-disputed matter without consensus. Currently, the use of folk culture products in tourism is studied by folklorists in line with the purposes of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, while it is done so by tourism scholars under the umbrella of cultural tourism, a type of tourism seen as desirable. Studies about the matter have progressed via two main sets: elaboration on the importance of heritage elements in terms of tourism versus stressing the issues of the touristic use of certain cultural values such as handcrafts, folk dances, or cuisine. Noticeable is the lack of an analytical framework in the relevant literature. This conceptual study argues for different functions as well as contexts of the touristic use of heritage elements, and proposes an analytical framework to be applied in future research. The idea that cultural heritage should be treated, in terms of different stakeholders and contexts, as a subject for tourism forms the outline of the proposed framework. Accordingly, a cultural element subjected to tourism involves five stakeholders; namely, cultural heritage, local community, tourism businesses, tourists and the state; and expectations as well as priorities of each stakeholder are unlike those of the others. Therefore, in terms of different stakeholders, functions to be expected from cultural heritage as a subject for tourism should also be different. Where and, hence, in what contexts cultural heritage can be utilized for tourism purposes would likewise differ. Thanks to such a framework, which takes into account different stakeholders and different functions, the subject can be discussed in a more analytical framework, and theories can be developed to explain current observations.