African Archaeology and Tourism

Abstract

Remnants of human civilizations have long been an important part of the tourism product. As noted earlier in the book, Africa is home to several global-scale archaeological sites, some of which have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Yet from a tourism perspective, the region is generally not known for its archaeological attractions the way these are known and promoted in other parts of the world. Nonetheless, Africa has a rich archaeological record that appeals to many tourists and has the potential to play a greater role in tourism product development and destination growth. This chapter will examine the role of archaeological remains as a tourist attraction, as well as the challenges facing archaeology (e.g., looting, wear and tear, and over-visitation) that tourism can raise for archaeologists and archaeological site management. It will examine different types of archaeological artifacts and discuss the sorts of work currently being undertaken in the region. Additionally, the chapter will shed light on various relationships between tourism and archaeology, including the role of public archaeology, community development through archaeotourism, archaeology-based volunteer tourism, and archaeology and destination branding.