Archaeological sites, modern communities, and tourism

Abstract

Archaeology is a major component of the tourism industry in both developed and developing countries, which has especially significant implications for indigenous people and other disenfranchised groups. Archaeological tourism celebrates the cultural richness of a region's history and has the potential to bring local or descendant communities financial gain. But what is the role of the archaeologist in the sustainable and responsible development and maintenance of archaeological tourism? Drawing upon their own field research, the authors suggest that when tourism and archaeological sites meet, archaeologists avoid arguments about ownership and act as facilitators for frank conversations about the consequences of tourism development for all parties involved.