The hypothesis put forward in this thesis is that tourism can be the agent for the sustainable conservation and development of the valuable legacy of colonial built heritage by capitalizing on its tangible and intangible assets. The key variable is the recognition of the intrinsic value of both iconic and non-iconic properties and sites that constitute the extrinsic value of the cultural attractions of the tourism destination. The research problem is concerned with assessing the impact of contemporary tourism development on these attractions and identifying the issues affecting preservation and realization of asset potential. The research aims to support the collaboration between tourism professionals and cultural heritage stakeholders committed to resolving issues and problems for the destination identified within the stages of the tourism destination's life cycle of evolution (Butler, 1980).