Abstract
Mass tourism can have many negative impacts on archaeological sites. As tourism increases, so does the need to actively manage these concerns. At the archaeological site of Pompeii this is particularly evident as tourism and its physical impact increase each year. This paper begins with a historical overview of the development of Pompeii as an archaeological site and heritage attraction and goes on to present the preliminary results of research into how presentation and interpretation can be used as a tool for site conservation and preservation at Pompeii. In 2011, extensive visitor observations and movement mapping were carried out to understand how visitor behaviours impact the site and how visitors move throughout the site. In depth interviews were also conducted with visitors to understand why they visit Pompeii and what they want from the experience. The results have provided a starting point for understanding how to develop a sustainable interpretation and presentation strategy that utilises the vast site more effectively and provides a better visitor experience.
Highlights
In November 2010, the archaeological site of Pompeii became the centre of international scrutiny after the collapse of the building the Schola Armaturarum (House of the Gladiators)
The collapse has been tied to a variety of causes: unusually heavy rain fall, inadequate maintenance, and previous conservation work that is incompatible with the ancient material (UNESCO 2011)
Presentation and interpretation have always played a role in archaeological site management but are often considered secondary to conservation as the physical preservation of archaeological sites is at Presenting Pompeii the core of site management (Castellanos and Descamps 2009; Cunliffe 2006; Demas 2002; Silberman and Callebaut 2006)
Summary
Mass tourism can have many negative impacts on archaeological sites. At the archaeological site of Pompeii this is evident as tourism and its physical impact increase each year. This paper begins with a historical overview of the development of Pompeii as an archaeological site and heritage attraction and goes on to present the preliminary results of research into how presentation and interpretation can be used as a tool for site conservation and preservation at Pompeii. In depth interviews were conducted with visitors to understand why they visit Pompeii and what they want from the experience. The results have provided a starting point for understanding how to develop a sustainable interpretation and presentation strategy that utilises the vast site more effectively and provides a better visitor experience
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
