Heritage and memories as a differentiating factor of community tourism: Maceira project – Village Ambassadors

  • Elsa Ramos Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/ TECHN&ART.PT /UD/IPGI
  • Cristina Rodrigues Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/UDI/IPG
  • Ricardo Guerra Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/TECHN&ART/CEGOT/CITUR
  • Vitor Roque Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/TECHN&ART/CITUR/UDI/IPG
  • Ana Lopes Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/ CEGOT/IPG
  • António Oliveira Associação Maceira
  • Ana Lopes Instituto Politécnico da Guarda/ CEGOT/IPG
Keywords: Memory, Community, Heritage, Activities, Tourism

Abstract

The "Maceira - Embaixadores D'Aldeia" (Maceira - Village Ambassadors) project aims to combat the exodus and depopulation of the interior, promoting active ageing of the senior population, intergenerationalism and collective participation of the village population, preserving its cultural, heritage and tourist identity, while at the same time developing solid strategies to promote tourism and repopulation. This work is based on the collection of evidence, namely measurement, quantification and evaluation, relating to the development of the activities implemented throughout the project's development period: (i)Community Guides Training Programme; (ii)Storytellers - Vivências D'Aldeia; (iii)Definition of the Material and Intangible Heritage Routes; (iv)Live Theatre - We Are the Village). Reviving and fuelling the memories of those who visit Maceira is a way of captivating the public. Chronological and typological recreations and interpretive tools allow participants to develop their imagination. Community activities were therefore developed with the aim of reconciling the concepts of history, heritage, landscape, environment and culture; the participation and integration of the people of the village in collaborative and community activities; the acquisition of digital skills and the use of information and communication technologies; the acquisition of community tourist guide skills and knowledge of the territory; the involvement of all the members of the families provided for in the project.

The methodology adopted was a quantitative and qualitative approach, using two types of data collection sources: questionnaires and interviews, used according to the type of data to be collected.

References

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Published
2024-06-25
How to Cite
Ramos, E., Rodrigues, C., Guerra, R., Roque, V., Lopes, A., Oliveira, A., & Lopes, A. (2024, June 25). Heritage and memories as a differentiating factor of community tourism: Maceira project – Village Ambassadors. Journal of Tourism and Heritage Research, 7(3), 44-65. Retrieved from http://www.jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/590