Heritage tourism involves visiting historic sites and places of cultural significance, often marketed by national tourism agencies and private enterprises. It can involve visiting ancestral homelands and is often combined with religious tourism. Travel companies offer organized tours led by knowledgeable guides, but independent travelers can also visit local sites and support traditional communities.
Heritage tourism involves visiting historic monuments and places that have special meaning to people of certain cultures. In some cases, heritage tourism may involve visiting a modern community where people live and work in a traditional way associated with their culture. Both national tourism agencies and private enterprises market heritage tours aimed both at people who are part of the culture represented and at other individuals curious about the heritage of people from different regions or nationalities.
Many people around the world trace their family roots to particular nations or regions in Europe, Africa or elsewhere. The term Diaspora is often used to refer to communities of Jews found in different parts of the world as a result of the gradual migration of past generations. In parts of the United States, in Australia and elsewhere, there are large communities of people who have their roots in countries such as Ireland, Italy and China. Heritage tourism often involves people who are part of the diaspora of a particular culture or nation arranging trips to visit their ancestral homeland. For many Middle Eastern people, heritage tourism is often combined with religious tourism or pilgrimages as religion and culture are often intertwined.
Nations in Europe, Africa, and Asia are often referred to as old world nations because advanced civilizations have existed in these regions for thousands of years. Historic sites such as ancient palaces, castles, traditional villages and various types of monuments in these nations are regarded as national heritage sites. The Great Wall of China, the Colosseum and the Tower of London are all well-known tourist sites of historical significance and attract historical tourists from many nations. In so-called New World nations such as the United States, Brazil and Australia, heritage tourism typically involves the indigenous tribes and communities that lived in these regions before the arrival of European settlers.
Travel companies often organize heritage sightseeing trips that last for several days or weeks and allow travelers from abroad to visit multiple heritage sites in a particular region or country. These trips are often led by tour guides who have extensive knowledge of local history and culture. Tour companies also offer shorter visits such as day trips to heritage sites. These trips are often marketed to schools and educational institutions so that history teachers can incorporate field trips into classroom studies.
In addition to organized group tours, heritage tourism often involves independent travelers visiting local sites such as churches or traditional farms. In some communities, people make goods such as clothes, shoes or necklaces in the traditional way. The revenues generated from the sale of these assets allow local residents to continue living in the traditional way and to keep the local heritage alive.
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