Discussion_of_Tourism_Impacts_on_Historic_Towns 2009-02

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Tourism Issues & Impacts year1                

Socio – cultural impact of tourism

on historical town such as

Canterbury

 

 

In this essay will be discussed the socio-cultural impact of tourism on historic towns, looking at the case of Canterbury, Kent. Some ideas will also be given of how to reduce the negative and increase the positive impacts of tourism activities.

 

Canterbury is situated in north-East Kent. The city lies on the River Great Stour. (Photo no 0.) (, 2009) We cannot discuss a historic town without taking a glimpse at its history. Canterbury, like many historic towns, has had its share of rising and falling throughout its history. The author looks at five major historical periods that had a significant impact on the town’s development and its tourism.

The first period was when the Romans occupied England (43AD-410AD). They built stone houses, theatres, temples and baths, and also constructed roads which allowed better access to the city. (Photo no 1, 2, 3)

The second was the reign of Henry II (1154-89) when Archbishop Thomas Becket’s death brought mass tourism into the city in the form of pilgrims visiting Becket’s shrine. (Photo no 4)

The third period was when Geoffrey Chaucer’s (1343-1400) Canterbury Tales were written and also when the biggest pilgrim inns were built. Today one of the most visited attractions is the Canterbury Tales House. (See photo no. 5) It shows that these periods had a positive impact on tourism in the town by encouraging visitors to spend time in the city.

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On the other hand the fourth period, the Tudor and Stuart (1400-1700) period, had a negative impact, because all the monasteries in the town were closed down, which stopped pilgrims visiting. (Photo no 6.)

The final period is the last 300 years, when the ‘rise of stagecoach and turnpikes’, later the railway and Channel Tunnel  put Canterbury back on the map, making it one of the most popular cities to visit for pleasure and cultural purposes.

Russo et al. (2001 p.826) warn us that ‘sustainable tourism development based on the exploitation of cultural attractions cannot be achieved if the users of the heritage –both ...

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