Relational versus local values of cultural heritage. Tourism gentrification and governance in context

Abstract

Both harmony and conflict may occur between local and more distant communities regarding artefacts of cultural heritage. Incoming tourism, which is attracted by cultural heritage, may provide jobs and other means of income to local residents. However, incoming tourists may also trigger or accelerate a process of gentrification in which local residents are directly or symbolically displaced by tourists. Local authorities develop governance mechanisms to address this issue, both by visioning and formulation of strategies and by issuing direct tools to regulate use of land and properties in a way that matches this vision. The paper discusses two case studies in the Netherlands, Amsterdam and Giethoorn, where communities and local authorities struggle with the threat of over-tourism. The Amsterdam case focuses on gentrification caused by tourists who rent homes as holiday accommodation through online platforms (such as Airbnb) and the governance response by the city to contain it. The Giethoorn case reveals how economic values of tourism and quality of place to live are competing in the context of a village with a distinct heritage based on a mode of production that has become marginalised. The paper aims to improve our understanding of governance responses regarding heritage-based tourism and gentrification. Based on the analysis, the paper also presents three directions for research: first, mapping relational geographies of heritage; second, developing interactive tools to bridge proximate and more distant communities in a process of place making; and third, development and evaluation of governance measures.