Research NoteWorld Heritage Area listing of the Greater Blue Mountains — Did it make a difference to visitation?
Highlights
► Host governments often support World Heritage Listing (WHA) to enhance tourism. ► Most visitors to Blue Mountains were unaware of WHA 5 years after gazettal. ► ‘Nature’ was identified as a major attraction although experience was only satisfying. ► World Heritage Area ‘brand’ may higher profile to attract more nature-based visitors.
Section snippets
Introduction and background
The primary objective of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage listing is to preserve human cultural heritage and/or nature (UNESCO, 1992–2011). Host governments also often support such listing for their potential to enhance tourism. However, studies that support this view are limited, especially for areas listed for their natural values. Interpretation of research conclusions has also been challenged (Cellini, 2011, Yang and Lin, 2011).
Since
Methodology
An English-language on-line questionnaire probed reasons for visitation, and sought to determine the role WHA listing contributed to the decision to visit (without prompting of WHA status). Notices/leaflets alerting visitors to the on-line questionnaire were distributed at six scenic lookouts near the most popular tourism village, Katoomba, the geographical centre of the WHA. Notices were posted throughout the study and leaflets were distributed between 0800 and 1800 h once a month on Wednesday
Results and interpretation
The survey generated 164 responses (66% domestic, 34% international), in approximately equal distribution between day and overnight visitors.
Awareness of Australia's 15 UNESCO WHAs was generally low, with approximately half of respondents unable to name any (Table 1). The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was recalled most frequently (21.8% of all WHAs named, 51.2% named at least once) and the GBMWHA was the second most commonly recorded (17.8% and 42.0% respectively). Less than half (49.5%
Conclusions
Visitation to the GBMWHA declined between 1999 and 2004–2005 (our survey) and, therefore, appeared unaffected by WHA listing. Most were unaware they had visited a WHA. This was despite tourists being primarily motivated, and satisfied, by the destination's natural beauty. These findings have implications for agencies seeking to benefit from WHA listing. At least in Australia, the ‘brand’ of ‘World Heritage Area’ has to be better enunciated to the consumer (tourist) before the effect of consumer
Dr. Nigel Hardiman recently moved to the UK to take up a position as lecturer in Conservation Business at Kent University. Previously he had lived and worked in Australia where he undertook his graduate studies at the University of Western Sydney. He has an extensive knowledge of Australian wilderness which led him to focus his research in tourism, particularly ecotourism. His graduate studies were undertaken in the wilderness of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. He has a
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Cited by (0)
Dr. Nigel Hardiman recently moved to the UK to take up a position as lecturer in Conservation Business at Kent University. Previously he had lived and worked in Australia where he undertook his graduate studies at the University of Western Sydney. He has an extensive knowledge of Australian wilderness which led him to focus his research in tourism, particularly ecotourism. His graduate studies were undertaken in the wilderness of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. He has a particular interest in the ecology and management of the canyons of this wilderness area.
Professor Shelley Burgin (Emeritus Professor, University of Western Sydney, UWS) has an extensive research background in environmental management. Trained as one of the first environmental scientists in Australia, she has worked in universities in Australia and overseas. A foundation member of UWS, after 23 years she took up the role of Head of School in the Mirvac School of Sustainable Development at Bond University (Australia) in 2012. Her major research interests are associated with the impacts of humans on native wildlife, together with the policy and community engagement she considers are required to translate the science into action on the ground.