The Tourism Potential of Ancient Trade and Pilgrimage Routes: Investing in Heritage Destinations

Authors:

Pages: 32-44

Abstract:

Roads as history, mission and product of human activity are at the basis of a centuries-old exchange of knowledge, information, and achievements. Functioning as a kind of network that promote trade contacts and the spread of religious views, ancient roads preserve legends and evidence of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The famous trade routes have built economic, social, cultural, and communication ties between peoples, ensuring the transfer of goods, knowledge, traditions, and ideas. The formation of the renowned trade and pilgrimage routes was an important part of human history and a way to preserve world heritage values. Today, the complex historical and geographical road network, connecting a great many destinations, offers a growing potential for heritage, adventure, and creative tourism. The analysis of some of the world‘s famous routes from antiquity to the present day involves, in the first place, a brief outlook on their past and role in human history, and, in the second place, a review of the opportunities to invest in their rehabilitation and active promotion as modern heritage tourism destinations. Key examples of this approach include the Silk Road, the world’s best known trade route connecting the East and the West, the thirteen century-old Tea Road, and the destinations along the pilgrimage routes forming the vast network of the Camino de Santiago, a historic route network of pilgrims‘ ways to the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Keywords:

trade and pilgrimage routes; destinations; heritage; tourist potential; Silk Road; Tea Road; Camino de Santiago.

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