Heritage conservation promoting sustainable tourism in Guangzhou: a case study of En Ning Lu

Abstract

In contemporary society with a rapid high-rise development, a growing number of tangible and intangible heritages are suffered from serious threats of destruction with changes in social, environmental and economic conditions. Despite heritage conservation and tourism development have been controversial issues in recent years; it seems that heritage conservation and sustainable tourism are always losing in economic or new developments.

In this study, it aims to explore the relationship between heritage conservation and sustainable tourism, and identify local needs and aspirations on regenerating the area through data collection, and suggest three factors which shall be concerned and are effective to guide the future planning process of heritage conservation how to promote culturally sustainable tourism.

There are two assets of heritage, tangible and intangible assets, both are significant for conservation, meanwhile, sustainability reflects to social, economic and environmental elements. That is to say, social and cultural issues are both importance of heritage conservation and sustainable development. However, social and intangible aspects, such as customs, lifestyle, culture, arts, are rarely concerned through heritage conservation as a part of urban regeneration in Guangzhou. Through theoretical investment and overseas experiences, this study suggests promoting culturally sustainable tourism. The recommendation emphasizes advocating sustainable tourism in a holistic view.

Taking as a case study, En Ning Lu is an urban regeneration project which combine concept of the heritage conservation and urban regeneration, meanwhile, it has great potential to retain and promote local and Lingnan culture by enhancing sustainable tourism. Therefore, it emphasizes that the significance of the incorporation between heritage conservation, urban regeneration and sustainability, and through the three factors, namely politic, management of cultural landscapes and compatibility between new development and old town, to provide a workable suggestion for sustainable tourism, particularly in terms of cultural aspect. The proposed formulation for developing En Ning Lu serves as a sample for other urban regeneration projects in Guangzhou. And it is hope to guide Guangzhou forwards heritage conservation, urban regeneration and sustainable development via these recommendations that summarized in the study.