Cultural tourism between local and transnational identities: Jewish heritage in Syracuse,Italy

Abstract

This article focuses on the management of heritage and cultural tourism related to the complex identity of minority groups, where different components tend to produce different visions and practices. It highlights the impacts of globalized transnational networks and influences on political, cultural and religious identities and affiliations over long distances. In fact, diverse views, approaches, perceptions and representations may lead to disagreement and conflicts even within apparently compact ethnic or religious communities. The issues related to dissonant heritage management strategies and the related authorized heritage discourse, in terms of unbalanced power relations and diverging narratives, are considered. The theme of Jewish heritage tourism (J.H.T) is analysed, with a focus on the case of Syracuse, Italy. This historically cosmopolitan and multicultural city specializes in cultural tourism and tends to develop niche products, including J.H.T, in order to strengthen and diversify its international cultural destination status. Different components of the Jewish world, as well as non-Jewish stakeholders, practice different approaches to heritage tourism. Actors, discourses and reasons behind Jewish culture management and promotion will be highlighted and the reactions, perceptions and suggestions by the various stakeholders and groups involved will be portrayed, with the aim of contributing to the discussion about the complexity of niche heritage tourism processes in a multi-ethnic site.     

Do more,with less: The realities of local government in rural Ontario

Over the past 30 years, the responsibilities, mandates, and activities of local governments in Ontario have undergone substantial transformations. Influenced by New Public Management, policy changes are characterized by marketization and managerialism resulting in downloading of responsibilities to local governments. This research examines the ebbs and flows of policy changes among different provincial governments since 1990 and the impacts of these policies on rural local governments in Ontario. Interviews were conducted with elected officials and senior staff in eight local governments to understand their realities. The findings demonstrate the continual policy changes led to the “do more, with less” approach currently faced by rural local governments—increased regulatory requirements, limited human and financial capacities, and small tax bases to support their activities. This experience, combined with limited fiscal levers, hinders the ability of rural local governments to address both new demands for infrastructure and existing infrastructure deficits, housing stock and affordability, and economic and workforce development strategies. The reality has necessitated local governments to seek alternative strategies to deliver programs and services through partnerships and collaboration.     

关于保护多样性文化的思考

人类文化本来就是由多样性的文化所组成,文化的多样性是人类社会的基本特征,也是人类文明发展进步的动力。失去了文化的多样性就意味着失去了人类文化的特色,失去了人类文化“多样共存”的和谐关系。保护多样性文化最重要的价值,是它向我们传承着我们民族根脉延续而存活到今天的意义。     

城市文化遗产保护的困境及其解决途径

城市化的高速发展对城市文化遗产保护提出了严峻挑战。目前,存在着认知偏离、资金短缺、技术缺乏、法制不全、机制落后五大困境,必须确立文化遗产保护与城市整体发展的战略思想,健全法制,建立起有效的保护途径、技术支撑途径、资金来源途径、全民参与途径、执法监督途径,下好文化遗产保护这盘大棋。     

试谈过程论理念与文化遗产可持续发展——兼论文化遗产学思想与方法

过程论思想能够深化我们对于文化遗产之为过程的认识,过程控制有益于我们进行文化遗产保护与利用过程中的精细化管理,从而最大限度地维持文化遗产的健康生命,推进文化遗产的可持续发展,实现惠及广大民众、增进社会和谐的最终目标.与此同时,随着文化遗产学学科的逐步确立,学科性质、学科特色、研究对象等问题已达成基本共识,但其思想基础与研究方法仍悬而未决,过程论思想同样给我们提供了有益的启迪.     

建立农村居民健康档案刍议

为农村居民建立健康档案工作在我国处于起步阶段,根据农村居民健康档案的特点,规范健康档案的管理和有效利用,实现对农民健康的动态和连续管理,发挥健康档案对农村居民健康管理的作用,意义重大。     

行李待领:谁拥有香港的考古遗产?

香港曾是英国在东南亚的殖民地.在1997年回归中国前,香港是一个借来的时间和空间.根据香港特别行政区的基本法,回归后的香港保持原有法律和行政架构.在一国两制的原则,中国的文物保护法不适用于香港特区.殖民地时期以前,香港只不过是中国的一个边缘地区.经历150多年的殖民地管治,殖民政府曾于1899年颁行宋王台保存条例,其后...     

Building Capacity in Pacific Island Heritage Management: Lessons from Those Who Know Best

In recognition of the need to build capacity in heritage place management in the Pacific in 2004, UNESCO funded the development of the CD-ROM training program Conserving Pacific Places. The program attempted to address the lack of sustainable long-term outcomes from previous training programs ‘field-tested’ by Pacific Island heritage managers. This not only provided feedback on modifications to the Australian training model required to make it appropriate and useful in the Pacific Island context but gave voice to shared regional issues and concerns in Pacific Island heritage conservation through the writing of the Smith (2004).     

The ‘Triple R’ Approach on the Restoration of Archaeological Dry Stone City Walls: Procedures and Application to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Oman

The ‘Triple R’ approach on the restoration of dry stone walls, using recognizable, reversible and respectful constructive techniques is here illustrated. A set of restoration procedures are explained and applied to a UNESCO World Heritage site in Al-Baleed (Salalah, Sultanate of Oman) in the ‘Land of Frankincense’. The procedures were adapted in an innovative way to take into account the climate features of the Indian Ocean area (specifically, the effects of the monsoon season). All the restoration procedures aimed at conserving the site’s original architectural features by using only suitable stones and materials found on-site. Specific procedures have been adopted to consolidate walls, gates, foundations and sloping surfaces. Simple on-site mechanical tests and evaluation methods have been developed for a quick assessment of the safety level of the restored walls to ease future archaeological excavations. The application is related to a waterfront side of the ancient city built around the ninth century and added to over the next five centuries. These restoration procedures allowed for further archaeological excavations with new findings is here described.