The thesis evaluates the case of Ortahisar where natural rock-caved storage sector has been the major dominant traditional economic activity since 1950s. However this economic sector has begun to recess because of conservation priorities after the declaration of G&ouml / reme Historical National Park including Ortahisar settlement in World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1986. In addition, the tourism sector has begun to develop gradually in the Region as large amounts of tourists began to invade because of the world heritage advertisement of UNESCO and has begun to threaten the town&rsquo / s local economy, natural rock-caved storage sector. The aim of this thesis is to balance the stone-caved storage sector and tourism sector facilities and integrate the sustainable sides of them with conservation and sustainability objectives in a socio-spatial planning model and to ensure these two sectors&rsquo / positive contributions to each other and local economy. Finally, the thesis will emphasize the contribution of heritage planning to the sustainability of the local economy, ensuring of each sectors contribution to each other and local economy and heritage conservation process.

The research question addressed by this dissertation is: How is the tourist experience formed and what constitutes the authenticity of the tourist experience for two market segments (motivated and not motivated by learning) of tourists visiting (political) cultural heritage sites in South Africa. The study explores the correlation between three types of authenticity, namely objective, constructed and existential on two independent tourist samples, motivated and not motivated by learning. This research was initiated for three reasons. The first reason forms part of the research problem; South African cultural experiences received the lowest ratings from the international tourists despite the fact that culture and heritage play a role in reimaging South Africa from Big 5 destination into ‘It’s possible’ and ‘Leave ordinary behind’. It was suspected that not all types of cultural heritage products justify such a low ratings, especially not the political cultural heritage sites South Africa is famous for. The second reason emerged from the academic literature on authenticity theories and calls from the influential group of postmodernist scholars to declare the objective authenticity obsolete and replace it with the existential authenticity. The argument that; the hyperreal nature of the postmodern experience and its detachment from reality makes the authenticity of the site redundant, seemed inapt for cultural heritage sites exclusively dependent on their historical and authentic values. The third reason was the inability of the postmodern paradigm to explain the new tourism phenomenon driven by the tourists search for selfdevelopment through authentic experiences. The new emerging paradigm, transmodernity seemed to offer better theoretical framework in explaining the omnivorouessness of tourists’ consumption and the authentic nature of tourist experiences. The correlational character of the research question required a descriptive correlational design and quantitative methodology. The selected research instrument for primary data collection is a self–administered questionnaire. The sampling strategy is a non–probability sampling, and the sampling method is a convenience or accidental sample. The data was collected from November 2010 to February 2011 at the Constitutional Hill National Heritage Site in Johannesburg. The final sample (436) consists of 254 foreign and 182 domestic tourists. The questionnaire was designed to identify the variables pertinent to each type of authenticity of tourists experience and of the resultant tourist experience. The data analysis provided very interesting results. Firstly, the results of crosstabulation proved that more than half (56%) of the tourists expressed strong agreement that the Constitution Hill provided them with authentic experience, hence a proof that political heritage sites are not responsible for the overall low experiential ratings of the country’s culture and heritage. Secondly, the results of the Spearman’s correlation coefficient proved that objective authenticity as an independent variable have strong positive correlation with constructed and existential authenticity hence a proof that objective authenticity cannot be declared obsolete and replaced with existential authenticity. Finally, the results of the t–test proved that motivation for learning and place of birth do not play an important role in how tourist evaluate and experience the authenticity of the site pointing to the omnivorous nature of tourist consumption. In line with the transmodern paradigm, motivation for learning plays a critical role in triggering the transformative, authentic experience distinctive of the existential authenticity. The results of the study also showed that 32% of tourists are in fact the purposeful, New Age, transmodern Cultural Creatives. Proposed theoretical model of authenticity of tourists experience presents a theoretical platform for future research studies. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The research question addressed by this dissertation is: How is the tourist experience formed and what constitutes the authenticity of the tourist experience for two market segments (motivated and not motivated by learning) of tourists visiting (political) cultural heritage sites in South Africa. The study explores the correlation between three types of authenticity, namely objective, constructed and existential on two independent tourist samples, motivated and not motivated by learning. This research was initiated for three reasons. The first reason forms part of the research problem; South African cultural experiences received the lowest ratings from the international tourists despite the fact that culture and heritage play a role in reimaging South Africa from Big 5 destination into ‘It’s possible’ and ‘Leave ordinary behind’. It was suspected that not all types of cultural heritage products justify such a low ratings, especially not the political cultural heritage sites South Africa is famous for. The second reason emerged from the academic literature on authenticity theories and calls from the influential group of postmodernist scholars to declare the objective authenticity obsolete and replace it with the existential authenticity. The argument that; the hyperreal nature of the postmodern experience and its detachment from reality makes the authenticity of the site redundant, seemed inapt for cultural heritage sites exclusively dependent on their historical and authentic values. The third reason was the inability of the postmodern paradigm to explain the new tourism phenomenon driven by the tourists search for selfdevelopment through authentic experiences. The new emerging paradigm, transmodernity seemed to offer better theoretical framework in explaining the omnivorouessness of tourists’ consumption and the authentic nature of tourist experiences. The correlational character of the research question required a descriptive correlational design and quantitative methodology. The selected research instrument for primary data collection is a self–administered questionnaire. The sampling strategy is a non–probability sampling, and the sampling method is a convenience or accidental sample. The data was collected from November 2010 to February 2011 at the Constitutional Hill National Heritage Site in Johannesburg. The final sample (436) consists of 254 foreign and 182 domestic tourists. The questionnaire was designed to identify the variables pertinent to each type of authenticity of tourists experience and of the resultant tourist experience. The data analysis provided very interesting results. Firstly, the results of crosstabulation proved that more than half (56%) of the tourists expressed strong agreement that the Constitution Hill provided them with authentic experience, hence a proof that political heritage sites are not responsible for the overall low experiential ratings of the country’s culture and heritage. Secondly, the results of the Spearman’s correlation coefficient proved that objective authenticity as an independent variable have strong positive correlation with constructed and existential authenticity hence a proof that objective authenticity cannot be declared obsolete and replaced with existential authenticity. Finally, the results of the t–test proved that motivation for learning and place of birth do not play an important role in how tourist evaluate and experience the authenticity of the site pointing to the omnivorous nature of tourist consumption. In line with the transmodern paradigm, motivation for learning plays a critical role in triggering the transformative, authentic experience distinctive of the existential authenticity. The results of the study also showed that 32% of tourists are in fact the purposeful, New Age, transmodern Cultural Creatives. Proposed theoretical model of authenticity of tourists experience presents a theoretical platform for future research studies. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

[EN] This work has been developed within the framework of the Tourism Research Group of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. The main objective is to provide a model for a systematic analysis of the key elements that intervene in the process of determination of the Recreational Carrying Capacity for public use zones in Protected Areas. The proposed tool was deployed in the following cases study: Font Roja Natural Park (Ibi and Alcoi, in Alicante), Columbretes Islands Natural Reserve (in Castellón) and Albufera Natural Park (in Valencia). Considering the high volume of variables that take place in the determination and further management of the Recreational Carrying Capacity, it becomes highly difficult to elaborate a world-wide methodology. Nevertheless, this Thesis brings a general pattern applicable to practically every case with the necessary adaptations. On the other hand, this thesis arises the importance of considering the social aspects in the determination of the Recreational Carrying Capacity. In this sense, new concepts as psychological comfort of the users and visitors satisfaction are incorporated into the analysis with equal consideration as the ecological ones. It is also suggested that Recreational Carrying Capacity must be taken into account on the drawing up of the Protected Area Master Plans as a preventive tool for avoiding tourist impacts and guarantee users’ satisfaction. / [ES] Teniendo como marco de trabajo el desarrollado en el seno del Grupo de Investigación Aplicada al Turismo de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, la presente Tesis Doctoral tiene como objetivo principal aportar una sistemática orientada al análisis de los factores clave que intervienen en el proceso de determinación de la capacidad de carga recreativa para las áreas de uso público de los espacios protegidos. La herramienta de trabajo propuesta, se probó en tres casos de estudio: Parque Natural de la Font Roja (Ibi y Alcoi, Alicante), la Reserva Natural de las Islas Columbretes (Castellón) y el Parque Natural de l’Albufera de Valencia (Valencia). Considerando el volumen elevado de variables que intervienen en la determinación y posterior gestión de la capacidad de carga, es difícil elaborar una metodología de aplicación universal. En el presente trabajo se plantea, sin embargo, un esquema aplicable a todos los casos con las consiguientes adaptaciones que cada uno requiera. Por otro lado, se plantea la importancia de considerar los aspectos sociales en la determinación de la capacidad de carga de un sistema, sugiriéndose su incorporación, junto con los aspectos ecológicos tradicionalmente contemplados para el estudio de espacios protegidos y el diseño posterior de los correspondientes planes de gestión. En este sentido, se incorporan conceptos nuevos relacionados con la herramienta planteada como es el caso del confort psicológico de los usuarios y la satisfacción de los visitantes. / [CA] Tenint com a marc de treball el desenvolupat el sinus del Grup d’Investigació Aplicada al Turisme de la Universitat Politècnica de València, la present Tesi Doctoral té com objectiu principal aportar una sistemàtica orientada a l’anàlisi dels factors clau que intervenen al procés de determinació de la capacitat de càrrega recreativa per a les àrees d’ús públic dels espais protegits. L’eina de treball proposada, es va assajar amb tres casos d’estudi: Parc Natural de la Font Roja (Ibi i Alcoi, Alacant), la Reserva Natural de les Illes Columbretes (Castelló) i el Parc Natural de l’Albufera de València (València). Considerant l’elevat volum de variables que intervenen a la determinació i posterior gestió de la capacitat de càrrega, és difícil elaborar una metodologia d’aplicació universal. Al present treball es planteja un esquema aplicable a tots els casos amb les escaients adaptacions que cadascun requereix. D’altra banda, el planteja la importància de considerar els aspectes socials a la determinació de la capacitat de càrrega d’un sistema, suggerint-se la seva incorporació, junt amb aspectes ecològics tradicionalment considerats per a l’estudi d’espais protegits i el disseny posterior dels corresponents plans de gestió. En aquest sentit, s’incorporen nous conceptes relacionats amb l’eina plantejada com és el cas del confort psicològic dels usuaris i la satisfacció dels visitants. / Morant González, M. (2007). Desarrollo de un modelo para la determinación de la capacidad de carga recreativa y su aplicación a espacios naturales protegidos de la Comunidad Valenciana [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/131738