Putting down routes: an examination of local government cultural policy shaping the development of heritage trails

Abstract

This paper explores the significance of trails within local government cultural strategies by presenting the results of an audit of 1000 trails, content analysis of local cultural strategies and a series of interviews with local government cultural officers. It highlights the growing sophistication of trails as flexible and multi-faceted products promising an array of social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits. However, key issues emerge as challenges for local government cultural officers. These include the need for a realistic assessment of the relative importance of competing rationales, the design of methodologies to enable evidence-based policy making and more effective engagement with commercial organisations.

Self-guided trails – a route to more responsible tourism?

“…Equally worryingly, over 60% of the sample did not carry out any monitoring of the trail after it was set up, so trail developers are unaware of visitor volume and the effectiveness of signage, interpretative materials and marketing strategies. Trail usage is difficult to monitor, particularly in remote regions or in busy urban centres where users cannot be readily differentiated from other visitors (Hayes & MacLeod 2008). However, the positive economic impact of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail in Virginia, US and the Path to Progress Trail in Pennsylvania, US, have both been measured using expenditure surveys of trail users and an analysis of existing site reports respectively (Strauss & Lord, 2001;Bowker, Bergstrom, & Gill, 2007) In neglecting to evaluate impact and to monitor trails, developers may also be unaware of potential areas of conflict inherent in some trails, for example the "pilgrim-tourist dialectic" in the case of the Camino de Santiago where pious and secular motives may clash (Murray & Graham, 1997).…”

“…Similarly, the last three decades have seen the deliberate creation of new trails for recreation and touristic purposes. In many cases, these trails have been developed to promote access and recreation, to explore a conservation theme and to give a clear identity to places not already well-known by visitors (Hayes & MacLeod, 2008). Where a new place-identity has been produced, trails development has been criticised for its selectivity, choosing attractive, visually appealing themes which may not always accurately represent local history, culture or interests (Urry & Larsen, 2011;Skinner, 2015).…”

Feasibility analysis of Nisga'a tourism development

“…(Hayes 2008) also states that lack of ownership of infrastructure creates a significant management challenge; this will not be so in the case of infrastructure created and administered in Nisga' a territories. In Table 1 the policy driver issues of social, economic, environmental and culture illustrates the diversity of topics that need to be considered by NLG and the tourism association when proposing legislation for tourism (Hayes 2008 …”

“…This planning must be completed before the rapid escalation of the local industry makes management and administration more difficult, if it is incomplete, then competing forces may make the protection of the environment complex or unattainable. (Hayes 2008) states that vigilant planning of infrastructure development can ensure environmental management and persuade the local players to utilize local resources with insignificant negative impacts over the long term. (Hayes 2008) also states that lack of ownership of infrastructure creates a significant management challenge; this will not be so in the case of infrastructure created and administered in Nisga' a territories.…”

“…(Hayes 2008) states that vigilant planning of infrastructure development can ensure environmental management and persuade the local players to utilize local resources with insignificant negative impacts over the long term. (Hayes 2008) also states that lack of ownership of infrastructure creates a significant management challenge; this will not be so in the case of infrastructure created and administered in Nisga' a territories. In Table 1 the policy driver issues of social, economic, environmental and culture illustrates the diversity of topics that need to be considered by NLG and the tourism association when proposing legislation for tourism (Hayes 2008 …”