Golden geese or white elephants? The paradoxes of world heritage sites and community-based tourism development in Agra, India
Golden geese or white elephants? The paradoxes of world heritage sites and community-based tourism development in Agra, India
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Date
2011
Authors
Chakravarty, Surajit
Irazabal, Clara
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Citation
Chakravarty, S. and C. Irazábal. “Golden Geese or White Elephants? The Paradoxes of World Heritage Sites and Community-Based Tourism Development in Agra, India.” In Phillips, R. and S. Roberts (ed). Tourism, Planning, and Community Development. New York: Routledge, 2013, 125-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2010.519042
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Abstract
This study examines the relationship between World Heritage Sites (WHSs) and
local community development in Agra, India. We investigate two interrelated
themes: the role of planning in developing the tourism potential of the Taj Mahal
and other WHSs in Agra, and the impact of the WHS framework on the
development of the city. We analyze the weaknesses of the institutions and
agencies responsible for Agra’s inability to convert the development potential
created by its three WHSs into significant economic, community and
infrastructure improvements. The Agra case reveals a set of developmental
paradoxes, whereby the restructuring of the tourist industry induced by the
designation of WHSs does not lead to proportionate advances in local community
development. Several factors were found to be systemic problems, but some
recent schemes are worth supporting and expanding. The paradoxes and potential
of economic, tourism, and community development in Agra echo those of other
developing localities which host WHSs around the world. Following an
assessment of problems and challenges, a set of recommendations is directed
toward the development of pro-poor, community-based heritage tourism with the
aim of informing integrated planning for the community and for heritage and
tourism resources in the future.