Developing the heritage tourism product in multi-ethnic cities

This paper critically analyses policies designed to encourage a community focus in urban heritage tourism projects. The city of Birmingham, UK, is taken as a case study. There is an examination of an initiative aimed at increasing the potential of the city as a leisure tourism destination. A specific analysis is undertaken of the development of an industrial heritage attraction located in an inner city, multi-ethnic neighbourhood. Issues discussed are: how to develop a heritage tourism product which achieves a balance between economic and social goals; how to develop heritage tourism which is socially inclusive and recognises the needs of minority ethnic groups; how to develop industrial heritage within the post-industrial context and incorporate a new European identity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.