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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
Imitating heritage tourism: a virtual tour in Sekhukhuneland, South Africa
| Panel |
1. Tourism in Africa
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| Paper ID | 609 |
| Author(s) |
Kessel, Ineke van
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| Paper |
View paper (PDF)
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| Abstract | Heritage tourism is booming business in South Africa. Large numbers of tourists flock to Shaka Land, the battlefields of Natal, the Voortrekker Monument, the Hector Pietersen Memorial in Soweto and the township house of Nelson and Winnie Mandela in Orlando.
No wonder that many South Africans are eager to tap their share from the heritage and tourism industry. But what to do if there is no game park anywhere near, and local historical imagery is not as colourful as the archetypical Zulu warrior or the staunch Boer commando? Many South African municipalities sport elaborate websites, hoping to attract tourists. What is identified as ‘heritage’ and how are these sites and stories portrayed in the context of the tourist industry? This presentation explores the virtual heritage tour on the website of the Fetakgomo municipality in Sekhukhuneland and compares the virtual tour with the (attempted) real live experience.
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