NOTES OF THE CLOSING SESSION

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2 NOTES OF THE CLOSING SESSION Preservation, Presentation, Promotion and Profit Research Agendas, Best Practices and Hospitable Partnerships for future directions of hospitality tourism A Closing Debate of the Findings of the Special Sessions on Locations and the Papers and Cases presented Ad Breukel, Emmanuele Curti and Rapporteurs A. BRIEF INTRODUCTION In the discussion before this conference, the organizers sensed that something is changing in the tourism vocabulary. An introductory case is used as a illustrative example. Matera: - From: SHAMEFUL CITY - Via: RELOCATION OF PEOPLE THE RIGHT CITY. Matera was emptied, and a new city was built, based on political/ideological motives - Consequently: 1993 UNESCO CITY PROCLAIMED ECOC 2019

3 - To the present: meeting guests. Previously named tourists then typified as visitors and now: indicating them as temporary citizens, with an extra importance for the hosting community Elaboration: - Bringing about a turn in mental modeling reflects the new challenge of the third millennium following the new trend within tourism (the so called Tourism 3.0 ) and exploring a new definition of local communities; - Co-creating within the concept of temporary citizenship a new system of principles which reframe the inner sense and identity of a community; - stimulating the use of a lens to view visitors as temporary citizens, in pursuit of visitor-host community interaction to satisfy their mutually curiosity, a means to bridge cultural differences which serves as a first step in learning new pathways to live life to the fullest; thus learning as a tool for sheer enjoyment. - The Social Progress Imperative creates a shared language and common goals to align different organizations and achieve greater social impact. B. THREE SHORT DEBATES (10 MIN EACH) 1. The Preservation Debate The perspective of innovation: two colliding options (ambidexterity). Option 1: Normal business/exploitation: using heritage for normal tourism. - Preservation by means of maintenance spending, based on the earnings of mass tourism. - Disadvantage: commodity attitude (mass) and displacement of local community (Venice). See for instance the sessions on Gazing & Commercialization. Reactions during Closing Session:

4 - Tourism started with Grand Tour. Heritage was invented for the modern state. A underlying assumption is that all tourists behave in the same way, for instance in museums. Option 2: New directions/exploration: using heritage for new tourism: - Disadvantage: losing traffic. But the discussion in the Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis, revealed that for instance the embrace of a dissonant colonial heritage was able to attract visitors (see also below, about the Sealand exhibition). Reactions during Closing Session: - If the modern state is crisis, we should think about what heritage could mean for the healing the society. An early meaning of hospitality was related with comfort for all those involved, and represented social values, not only for the guest but also for the community itself. So, heritage may serve as a starting point for new meanings and new vocabulary in hospitality business. Question: - What new words can applied to build up a manifesto for social progress? Healing, care, post crisis, engaging spaces, craft etc. Reaction during Closing Session: - Respect came out as an important concept. For example, the slave trade example of Sealand (presentation on Using Archives Hannie Kool-Blokland) thoroughly demonstrates the painful events that have happened in the past (e.g. by not giving a name to a person, but only a number). Such an exhibition invites for new debates and education opportunities. - Another example of respect is the issue of regaining your own heritage. o After the removal in Matera, people felt a period of shame, but now the old Matera is again embraced. So, local heritage opens up new perspective for a community. o Co-creation between local citizens and policy makers is virtually nonexistent in Krakow. Locals view the historical center as a kind of amusement park, no longer their property (Janusz & Vanneste). o This may also be the case in situations where heritage is not seen as part of the history of the community itself, but a memory of another culture (e.g. Christian churches in Istanbul, Roman heritage in Jordan). So now the question is: How sellable is the heritage for the West?, and not In what different ways may the heritage support the different needs of the home community. Is there a dilemma, or only a paradox and can heritage in various representation attract all kinds of tourism (old and new)?

5 Reactions: - During the pre-conference Seminar at the Allard Pierson Museum the issue came up that sites outside city centers (e.g. Amsterdam) may be promoted as new areas to tourists. 2. The Stakeholder Debate The Hosting community (entrepreneurs / policy makers / heritage experts and so on) versus Tourists/visitors/guests Questions: - Who takes the initiative in heritage tourism - What impact has this first mover on the further trajectory / later development? Reactions during Closing Session: - Every stakeholder has an own story show as many of these stories as possible. That may the basis for stakeholder management - Think about: is heritage there for the sole purpose of tourism, or is tourism a way to contribute to the heritage itself, knowing that heritage has a multi-layered scheme of opportunities for guests and the hosting community o First example: starting point: civil society - the social housing projects during the start of the 20 th century, where community ownership, aesthetics and education were combined; they are still attractive ( t Schip, Amsterdam). o Second example: starting point modern tourism - Venice may end up by selling something that is not there anymore, not part of the community itself. A similar situation is seen in Prague (Dumbrovska & Fialova). A different trajectory may start with collaboration between public authorities and civilians, in order to align public and private spaces in a community. So, the business system as a whole should be investigated, and not heritage in an isolated situation. Such an endeavor may reconnect with the past with the present and new opportunities. - Are tourists themselves transforming or do they follow a standard image that needs to be satisfied (different target groups). o See for instance The Edutainment of War Tourism in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Kaori Yoshida, Huong Bui and Timothy Lee. Here, the image and narrative of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing is presented by the local tourist offices for educational purposes. While Hiroshima centralised the A-bomb history and their intent to preserve traditional ways, Nagasaki s multicultural background and trading history caused the locals to integrate the narrative with the city s entire heritage. The discussion after the presentation focused on a predetermined image of the A-bomb to Western tourists and the differing view of locals on this

6 recent (and painful) history, which in turn, may change the perception of the tourist. 3. The Resource Debate How can tangible resources (ICT/social media, artefacts and museums) and intangible resources (cooperative models, PMPCs-product-market-partner combinations, narratives) be combined. Time as a friend or as a foe? Compare: buildings. 4. Contemporary pay-back period approaches, where investments should be rewarded within for instance years versus 5. The combination of various functions, see for earlier example of the social housing projects during the start of the 20 th century ( t Schip, Amsterdam) Reactions during Closing Session: the debate was only slightly performed (end of the session). 6. During the pre-conference Seminar at the Allard Pierson Museum this issue was raised. Case studies (Erik Mertz, 7scenes) showed different technological strategies ranging from phone apps to digitalized paper tours and involving stories of the local communities. 7. Also educational opportunities were discussed (Van der Veen Explanation design). What heritage may be used in local museums, what is the target audience children, their parents? See also the earlier mentioned Edutainment of War Tourism in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. C. WRAP UP: WHICH FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY Rob van der Laarse: the theme for the next year has sharpened. What does heritage mean for citizens and for guests?