How does the hospitality industry integrate heritage?
Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes
ISSN: 1755-4217
Article publication date: 4 April 2023
Issue publication date: 23 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to highlight the importance of nurturing heritage from the perspective of hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs in countries such as India that have a wealth of natural and cultural heritage resources. The intent is to bring out intersections of heritage and hospitality and place these in the context of global and local issues and concerns.
Design/methodology/approach
Heritage has been outlined in a broad and inclusive manner, to include not only tangible natural and cultural resources but also intangible oral histories, processes and practices embedded in traditional knowledge. Secondary sources are used to represent trends mapped in other studies though the main narrative is derived from gaps and opportunities observed by the author, both as a heritage expert and consumer of heritage hospitality.
Findings
There are three areas where the hospitality industry intersects with heritage in the current context, namely, awareness of heritage resources and integration of these in curating creative visitor experiences, incorporating traditional sustainable practices in the operating procedures of hospitality services, and in fostering heritage entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
This viewpoint should be of interest to researchers, academics and practitioners with a hospitality background as they seek creative ways of bringing heritage and traditional knowledge into mainstream hospitality education and practice, based on more systematic inquiry and exploration.
Keywords
Citation
Munjal, P.G. (2023), "How does the hospitality industry integrate heritage?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 249-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-01-2023-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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