Information needs for building a foundation for enhancing sustainable tourism as a development goal: an introduction

Abstract

Societies flourish when their members connect with and bond to their heritage, both cultural and natural. Understanding and appreciating that heritage is part of the human condition, so much so that otherwise we are lost as a species. This heritage and the connections it provides may be recreational (as when we seek outcomes such as adventure, challenge, escape, solitude and stress release), educational (such as learning about natural processes), cultural (such as appreciating how our societies have developed and understanding notable events of the past), spiritual, or utilitarian (such as harvesting resources for sustenance and shelter). The heritage values that support these connections, whether a remote landscape of the arctic, an historically significant cultural event in Asia, or a small protected forest in Eastern Europe, require careful stewardship if they are to be accessible to our grandchildren and theirs.